Women across the State have started shopping for the festival that falls on May 30 this year. A lot of rush is seen at the saree markets, as the sellers are offering lucrative discounts to attract more customers. Fruit markets in the State are also witnessing huge rush despite the prices of all seasonal fruits have gone up by at least 50 per cent.
Today, most of the markets across the State witnessed heavy rush. Buyers were seen purchasing variety of fruits, including mango, jackfruit, grapes, orange, palm, banana, watermelon, pineapple, jamun and ice apple for offer to the Yamraj.
“There will be heavy rush during morning hours, so I come to market for buying fruits in afternoon hours. The prices of fruits have gone up,” said a Bhubaneswar resident.
Crowds of customers were also seen at garments and other stores.
On Savitri Brata, married women consume fruits the entire day and worship Yamraj, the god of death, seeking long life of their husbands. As per customs, biological parents send fruits, new clothes and other adornments to their married daughters on the occasion.
The women observe the festival amid much serenity and devotion as per a legend is that once Savitri, a mythological character, had once taken all penance in life and managed to appease the Yamraj, God of Death, to give her husband Satyaban re-life. Satyaban, a prince of a kingdom, was short-lived, according to the legend.
