Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Jun 30: The fishes that were hiding below the stones are coming out with the onset of monsoon. Bounty of fishes is seen in streams of Bannanje and Kalsanka in the city. This has attracted the locals to the stream that flows near Bannanje.

Most of the people in the city are busy catching these fishes from the streams. While some take it home and make a dish out of it, others sell the same and make some quick bucks. These fishes used to be found in the streams besides the paddy fields in night time and in ponds in the beginning of monsoon. However, this time around, they are seen in the muddy water in day time itself.

The availability of stream fishes in the city area itself has surprised the people. The long moustaches of the fishes also are causing curiosity. Many people are getting down into the streams and catching the fish.

Local resident Pramod Katapadi says, "There is a tradition in villages of catching ubar fish during the first rain of the monsoon. We go to the sides of the paddy fields in the night, with torch light in hand, and pierce the fish with knife and bring it home. The dish is made in the night itself. The taste of such a freshly prepared fish dish is awesome. The fish that is available in the streams in the city is called chekde. Mugudu fish is still bigger in size."