Bhubaneswar : What was once a largely North‑Indian festival has found a fresh, vibrant audience in Odisha, especially among the state’s youth.

The auspicious day that kicks off the Diwali calendar is now lit up with stalls, rangoli contests, and social‑media buzz from Bhubaneswar to the farthest towns, turning Dhanteras into a pan‑Odisha celebration.

For generations, Odias celebrate Akshaya Tritiya as the prime ‘buy‑new‑thing’ day, with buying gold, silver and household items. In recent years, Dhanteras has vaulted from a largely North‑Indian celebration into an Odisha‑wide cultural event, drawing people of every age and background into the buzz of shopping, puja and lights. What was once a regional footnote is now a full‑blown festival of prosperity, health and modern‑day consumer exci

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