Customers look at a kurta at a khadi store in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 13: Come Independence Day and one is reminded of the khadi garments worn by our freedom fighters, which still remains in vogue.

The private and public khadi centres are doing brisk business as people come looking for khadi products that ooze patriotic fervour.

Although the Khadi Gramodyug Sales Depot located at Janpath here does not have variety of designs to offer, they are offering discounts of more than 20 per cent.

The offer is valid from August 9 to 15. The sales at the depot have shot up manifold owing to the discounts on offer.

Supervisor of the store Prasant Mohapatra said on a usual day the depot registers a sale of about Rs 8,000 to 10,000, but on occasions such as Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti, the sales go up even up to Rs 15,000 a day.

Very few youngsters visit the store as the range of designs and textures are very limited and it houses only those made by rural artisans.

“Youngsters want tailor-made products, that too of varied hues. Products such as napkins, shirts, dhoti and lungis are most sought after at our store. At present, we are selling many flags. They are a hot favourite this season. The senior citizens are more interested to buy khadi products while the craze of khadi is yet to catch up with youngsters,” said Mohapatra.

Another outlet to have gained from the overwhelming sense of patriotism is Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan. Located at Market building here, these days the store earns at least Rs 10,000 more than what it earns usually. Their ranges of products seem to impress youngsters more than its Janpath counterpart.

“Youngsters come looking for colourful kurtas, jackets and shirts and are very particular about what they want and we take note of their feedback,” said a salesman.

The store is not offering any special discounts for the season but it claims that its prices are very reasonable. Private centres such as Khadi Niketan Plaza and FabIndia said that their sales don’t fluctuate much even on such occasions.

“More and more designers are working on khadi. While the fabric is very popular in metro cities, it is gradually catching up in places such as Bhubaneswar. In Odisha, people still see khadi as a traditional wear to be worn on special occasions,” said designer Manas Dash.