Sabitri Brata shoppers throw caution to wind
Bhubaneswar: The easing of restrictions in lockdown 4.0 has brought people out on the streets, throwing social distancing norms out of the window. Thursday witnessed huge crowd in the city markets as people were busy doing last minute shopping for Sabitri Brata puja.
Heavy rush was witnessed in garment stores and saree shops. It was a similar scene at fruit stalls and grocery stores. Several people were seen without masks, a public offence in the state in the time of Covid.
The people, who had a subdued Odia new year besides muted Ram Navami and Good Friday celebrations becasue of Covid-19 restrictions, seemed to have been suddenly set free after two months as they flooded markets and shops.
“We had to step out from home because Sabitri Puja is a very important festival and celebrated in every household. It is also a cultural practice that parents send to their daughters new clothes, fruits and other stuff on the occasion. But with so many people in the market, it is difficult to maintain social distancing” said Harapriya Mohanty, a shopper. Odisha will celebrate Sabitri Amabasya on Friday.
With Eid to be celebrated on Sunday, people from the minority community were also seen shopping. “It won’t look nice to celebrate Eid in a grand manner with people suffering” said Md Ussunullah, a shopkeeper in Unit-1 market.