Bhubaneswar, April 25: When the heat gets unbearable, it’s best to fall back on traditional methods. With the maximum day temperature hovering around the 40°C mark, people in the twin cities are doing just that to beat the heat. 

While the mercury touched 40.8°C in Cuttack city today, the highest temperature in Bhubaneswar was 39.8°C.
A traditional method to keep the heat at bay is to use khus curtains (bena cheera). 

Water is sprinkled on it once in a while to keep it cool. The owner of a medicine shop at Nayapalli, who is using khus curtains at his shop, said: “It’s difficult to use the air-conditioner in an open shop. Besides maintaining a cool environment, the scent of the khus is soothing.”

G. Ganesh, 40, who has been in the khus business for 20 years, said: “The demand for khus has gone up significantly in the city. We are now selling khus at Rs 30 a foot. A standard khus curtain to cover a window will cost around Rs 600.”

Summer fruits

Fruits also come handy in the heat as people often complain of dehydration. 

In this season, fruit such as watermelon and sugar palm are in high demand.

Sanjay, a roadside vendor at Kalpana Square, said: “Watermelons mostly come from west Odisha, particularly Balangir and Sonepur. The sales rise in direct proportion to the soaring mercury.”

Another fruit that has become extremely popular is the sugar palm or tala saja. Kuni Patra, 39, said: “I am selling five to six tala saja at Rs 20. Since it is available for only two months, there is huge demand for it. It also makes you feel cool.”
Madhumita Pradhan, a private company employee, said: “I buy the sugar palm fruit every day. I love it.” 

Like fruits, the demand for fermented rice or water rice (pakhal) has gone up. Almost all eateries, including star hotels, are selling it.