Have you ever heard of Makar Sankranti? It is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in January, a cherished holiday in India.
It marks the beginning of longer days as the sun begins to move into the zodiac sign of Makar (Capricorn). A number of rituals are performed during the celebration, such as flying kites and exchanging sweets.
So, what does this have to do with shrimp and why are we mentioning this holiday?
Well, because this holiday also marks the beginning of the first Indian crop.
Once the festival comes to an end, the shrimp seedlings are transported from the hatcheries to the shrimp farms and new seedlings are released every week. It is expected that the shrimp crops will be ready in April-June.