| Ilish | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Clupeiformes |
| Family: | Clupeidae |
| Subfamily: | Alosinae |
| Genus: | Tenualosa |
| Species: | T. ilisha |
| Binomial name | |
| Tenualosa ilisha (F. Hamilton, 1822) |
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Ilish (Bengali: ইলিশ Ilish) (Oriya: ଇଲିଶି Ilishii), also spelled Elish, is the most popular fish with Bengalis and Oriyas. Its the national fish of Bangladesh and extremely popular in parts of India such as West Bengal, Orissa, Tripura, Assam as well. Ilish also can be found at India's Assamese-, Bengali- Oriya-speaking regions and in Telugu-speaking regions (Telugu: పులస Pulasa or Polasa) and in Pakistan Sindh (Sindhī: پلو مڇي Pallu Machhi). In Gujarat it is known as either Modenn or Palva. It is an economically important tropical fish. Each year a large number of fish is caught at Padma-Meghna-Jamuna delta at Bay of Bengal. It is a sea fish but it lay eggs in large rivers. After being born the young Ilish (known as Jatka) then swim back to the sea. That is when they are caught, before they swim to the sea. The fish in coastal area of Gujarat is known as Modenn if it is female and palva if it is young male. The fish is full of tiny bones which require trained eaters/hands to handle.
As it is anadromous in nature (an uncommon phenomenon in tropical waters), the ilish lives in the sea for most of its life, but migrates up to 1,200 km inland through rivers in the Indian sub-continent for spawning. Distances of 50–100 km are usually normal in the Bangladesh rivers. Ilish is mainly available in the major Bangladesh rivers of the Padma (lower Ganges), Meghna lower Brahmaputra), and Godavari. Those from the Padma are considered to be the best in taste. In India, the rivers Rupnarayan (known as Kolaghater Ilish), Ganges,Mahanadi,[1]Chilka Lake[2] and Godavari are famous for their tasty breeds.
However, Ilish is also caught from the sea. But those caught from the sea are not considered to be so tasty as those caught from the river.
Ilish is also found in the deltaic region of southern Pakistan, in the province of Sindh. Here it is commonly referred to as the Palla fish. The fish was usually found in abundant quantities in the district of Thatta. Recently, however, the lower reaches of the Indus have dried up as water is stored upstream, and the Palla cannot make its journey into the river any more.
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Ilish is an oily fish rich in essential fatty acids(omega 3 fatty acids). Recent experiments have shown its beneficial effects in decreasing cholesterol level in rats[3] and insulin level.[4]
In Bengal, ilish can be smoked, fried, steamed, baked in young plantain leaves, prepared with mustard seed paste, curd, Begun (eggplant), different condiments like jira and so on. It is said that people can cook ilish in more than 50 ways. Ilish roe is also popular as a side dish. Ilish can be cooked in very little oil since the fish itself is very oily.
In North America (where Ilish is not always readily available) the shad fish is sometimes used as a Ilish substitute, especially in Bengali cuisine. This typically occurs near the East coast of North America, where fresh shad can be fished. The substitution is possible because of the fairly similar flavour and consistency of these two fish.
In many Hindu Bengali families two Ilish fishes (Joda Ilish) are bought on special auspicious days, like some pujas. It is considered auspicious to buy two Ilish fishes on the day of Saraswati Puja (The Goddess of Learning and Beauty), which takes place in the beginning of Spring and also on the day of Lakshmi Puja (The Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity) which takes place in autumn. But this custom is prevalent mainly among the Hindu Bengalis of former East Bengal (now Bangladesh) many of whom now live in West Bengal, Barak Valley (Assam) and Tripura in India after the Partition of India. Some of them give Ilish fish as an offering to the goddess Lakshmi, without which the Puja is sometimes thought to be incomplete.
In Orissa there is a popular saying that "Machha khaaiba Ilishii,chakiri kariba polisi",means eating Ilish and getting a job in Police department are of equal status.
There are also several jokes involving Bangal (those from East Bengal) and Ghotis(traditionally from West Bengal) where the Bangals love Ilish and the Ghoti love Ching-ri (Prawns).
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