New Delhi: Das served herself a plate of rice, topped with fried Hilsa and a bit of mustard oil, quickly moved to a corner, sat down on the door slab, and took her first bite of fish. “Hilsa is incomplete without mustard oil and rice — a true Bengali flavour,” she said, dipping her fingers to debone the fish.

Das was among the guests at the Ilish Fest hosted by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Saturday. At noon, women in exquisite Dhakai sarees and men in vibrant kurtas gathered at the embassy to celebrate the Hilsa festival. It was the first of its kind, coming right after a Jamdani festival organised by the High Commission last week.

“Hilsa is a profound element in our culture. It is delicate, delectable, and unique,” said M Riaz Hamidullah, High Commissioner of Bangla

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