Shoppers feel the heat ahead of coastal Odisha’s biggest fest

Bhubaneswar: The unbearable heat is giving a tough time to shoppers who have thronged markets for last-minute shopping ahead of Raja, one of the biggest festivals of coastal Odisha, which begins from Wednesday.
During the three-day festival, women take a break from household chores, wear new clothes, apply henna on their palms and feet, and swing on wooden planks hung with ropes from trees. Each household prepares special delicacies.
“Only one day is left for Raja but it is impossible to go out of home during the day. So, we went shopping in the evening. But high humidity has made shopping cumbersome. There is a rush in the markets and parking is a big problem,” said Diptirekha Sahu, a college student.
Many shoppers complained of exhaustion.
“I went shopping for my daughters. But I felt dehydrated, dizzy and had a headache. In this heat I may not be able to prepare pithas on the festival day. Every year by Raja, monsoon starts in Odisha, but this year the weather has been extreme,” said Sudipta Swain, a 36-year-old homemaker.
While shoppers have thronged malls and air-conditioned showrooms, Market Building -- one of the major shopping hubs in the city -- has been witnessing steady footfalls in the evening.
Shops stock up on clothes, jewellery and food items that are in high demand during this period. People purchase new clothes for the festival and shops offer special discounts to attract customers.