Bhubaneswar, May 27: Narendra Modi bhakts may claim “acchhe din aa gaye”, but fruit-lovers swear it’s not so.

A hike in the price of fruits has dampened the spirit of city residents ahead of the Savitri festival celebrations tomorrow.

While mangoes were available for Rs 30 to 40 a kg a week ago, the price has now gone up to Rs 60 to 80. The price of one kilogram of apple has increased to around Rs 180-Rs200 from Rs 140-Rs150 last week. The prices of jackfruit, pineapple, litchi, orange and grapes have also gone up drastically.

“This has become a regular affair during Savitri every year. Because of the high price, we are forced to buy very small quantities of each fruit for the sake of using them in the ritual offering to the deities,” said Mrinalini Kuanr, an employee with a private organisation in the city.

The fruit industry does business worth Rs 40 lakh in Bhubaneswar every day and this figure goes up by 20 per cent during the Savitri festival. More than 150 fruit vendors operate in the city.

Legend has it that Savitri managed to bring her dead husband Satyaban back to life after intense praying on this day. Married Odia women celebrate the day with offerings to deities for the safety of their husbands.

Bhubaneswar depends on its neighbouring states for its fruits. While mangoes are imported from various parts of Andhra Pradesh, litchis are brought from Bihar and grapes from Bangalore. Odisha grows its own pineapples and coconut.

“Apples are exported from China and Australia while oranges come from Egypt and South Africa for this season when it is not available in India. Fruit prices are less as compared to last year’s Savitri festival,” said member of Rajdhani Fruit Wholesaler’s Association Rabindra Patra.

Fruit vendors are expecting brisk business as torrential rains on Sunday kept the city residents indoors. “Our business was hit by the rain. But it has picked up since yesterday. We hope to do good business tomorrow,” said Pradeep Behera, a fruit vendor.