From Dharan's Bhanuchok to the east, Machhabhoudi Galli is engrossed in its own world. Here the passion of Sidra is spreading from morning till evening. Traders sitting on the side of the road seem to be busy selling different types of sidra.

This business, which was started by the ancestors in the old market of Dharan since the establishment of Dharan, is still connected with the lifestyle of the people here. It is not only a means of earning a living, but it has become like a tradition.

In this place, Bajebaraju of Newar community used to trade Sidra on the street. Sidra trader Prem Shrestha says that he has been doing business on the street following the profession of his ancestors. 'This profession is not only a means of earning, it is also a sign of our identity and our ancestors,' say the traders here. 

The business of Sidra is running under the open sky without hiring shutters. This market also tells the story of Dharan's history and struggles. 

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Devki Khadgi of Dharan sub-metropolitan city arrives from home at 8 o'clock in the morning at Machhabhoudi Galli of Dharan's old market. Selling sidra in the street till 6 pm is his daily routine. She has been enjoying this profession continuously for 27 years and says that she gets good income by selling sidra .

'Since Sidra is sold more in winter than in summer, the business is less now,' she said  . She sells Sidra from 600 to 1200 per kg. "Early on, fish were brought from rivers and streams. In recent times, Sidra is made only from the fish reared in the pond," she said. She said that since she is selling Sidra from 3,000 to 10,000 daily, it is easy to manage her household expenses.

He says that since there is not enough Sidra production in Nepal, it should be brought from India and sold. "I myself sell more than 20 quintals of Sidra in a year," she said. Sidra is consumed in most of the hilly districts.

Sidra is produced in Nepal from July to October according to the season. Sidra is consumed for pickles in the hotels of Dharan. Customers also buy Sidra to take it to their relatives as Koseli .

Manaka Shah has also been involved in the Sidra business for 20 years. She said that she continued the profession of her ancestors. He says that by cutting all the expenses in a month, up to 40,000 will be saved.

Prem Shrestha of Dharan-3 has been living his daily life by selling Sidra every day on the street. According to him, there is more business of Sidra from the first week of October to February. Sidra connoisseurs come here from far and wide to buy Sidra.

He is currently selling more than 12 types of sidra  . "I sell Patasi, Chela, Bamana, Junge, Sundari, Tegna, Barel, Chalwa, Zinge, Bulawa species," he said. From this business, he has been paying the household expenses and the school fees of his children.'

In the same place, Prakash Shahi has also been earning his living by selling Sidra. He sells sidra from three kg to five kg daily. He says that fish will be brought here especially from Naxalbari, Gorakhpur, a neighboring country in India.

Sidra is available from 12 to 18 varieties according to the season, he said. "The cheapest is 600 and the most expensive is 1200 rupees shrimp," he said. According to him, fish sidra such as Kechki, Mada, Maithali, Pothi, Loli, Bamla etc. are sold here . "Pothia is bimonthly, while other fish are seasonal," he said.

Earlier, it was a custom to bring Dharan from the hilly district to fill the market. Trader Shahi says that even now most of the hill people buy Sidra. He says that Sidra connoisseurs bring it to Koseli not only in the country but also in countries like Hong Kong and Britain.