TURA, Jan 5: Preparations are under way on the eve of the annual community fishing of the Attong people — a sub-tribe of the Garos who reside in the South Garo Hills region — which is expected to draw crowds from far and wide, including fish traders from the neighbouring state of Assam.
Locally known in the Attong dialect as Wari Bila or community fishing in a Wari or water body, the entire community of the village takes part in the fishing. There are several areas all along the stretch of the Simsang River where such community fishing will take place this month.
The days-long preparation prior to the event includes barricading the river with bamboo fencing that stretches several hundred metre to prevent the fish from escaping.
This year’s Wari Bila is taking place on Wednesday at Kausi Wari located at Rewak region of Siju, through which flows the mighty Simsang River before it enters the plains of Bangladesh down south.
The expert divers and swimmers will enter the water carrying large-scale fishing nets, both traditional and commercial, and a several hundred spectators from across the Siju-Rewak region will be witnessing the day-long event.
Hundreds of kilogrammes of a variety of fresh water fish is expected to be netted during the Wari Bila, which will be a much sought after item and prices are expected to be at a premium.
