Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Hyderabad's fish markets drew huge crowds on the occasion of Mrigasira Karthi today.
People from various parts of the state capital thronged the Ramnagar-based fish market to buy the fish of their choice. What was unsettling was that many buyers were seen flouting critically important Covid-19 safety norms, like social distancing and mask-wearing, putting the lives of themselves and others around them at risk.
Although the local police tried to control the crowds, most did not follow their instructions as many buyers adamantly insisted that they would be able to cure themselves of asthma if they ate the fish on the auspicious occasion of Mrigasira Karthi, the day that marks the entry and transit of the Sun through the Mrigasira nakshatra (constellation).
The police, however, claimed that they imposed fines on the shop owners for violating the norms.
Though many seemed to be observing the festival with gusto, this was the second year in a row when the famed event of the Bathini family's distribution of the fish prasadam could not be conducted due to the prevailing health emergency - like last year, this year too only a small amount of prasadam was prepared for the consumption of the family. They requested people not to travel to the city for the prasadam this year.