Bhubaneswar, May 31: Skyrocketing fruit prices are all set to burn a hole in the pockets of those shopping for the Savitri festival tomorrow.

The rates, especially that of the banana, have dampened the spirits of the buyers. Women pray for their husbands’ long life during the Savitri festival.

According to mythology, the legendary Savitri could manage to get back the life of his dead husband Satyaban from the hands of the god of death with her intense prayer on this day. Since then, wives in Orissa have been celebrating the day with offerings to the god for the safety of their husbands.

“With the passage of time, however, the celebration has become more of a formality of sorts. Still, expenses are increasing with the sudden rise in prices of items associated with the celebration. Fruit prices go up and it affects shoppers very hard. For example, mangoes were available for Rs 30 to 50-a-kg a week ago. But now, they are priced at Rs 40 to Rs 70. But bananas have become dear with a hike of Rs 40 to 50 for a dozen. They are being sold now at Rs 80 per dozen. Similarly, the prices of jackfruit, pineapple, litchi, tender palm, date palm and coconut have also gone up drastically,’’ said Prakash Kumar Baral, an employee of a private company.