Fish & shrimp

Fish play a significant role in Nepali society for religious, social, and culinary reasons. Fish symbolize good luck, prosperity, and happiness. In the Newar community, dried fish is offered to friends and family as sagun (blessed) food to bring good luck, success, and good fortune. It is also considered sacred and is offered to various deities during festivals.

Because Nepal is a landlocked country, most fish comes from Himalayan rivers. They are caught by local fishermen using old-fashioned fishing techniques with bamboo poles, rods, and fishing traps. The most common fish available are carp, trout, and catfish. In many remote areas of Nepal where there is no transportation or processing facilities, smoking or sun-drying is used to preserve fish. Small dried fish known as sidraa maachaa are very popular and used extensively in Nepali cooking. Until recently, most other fish were imported from India, but the Nepali government has successfully encouraged commercial fish farming to meet local needs.