If you have been staying in Odisha for sometime, you know the dreadful summers that the state faces in the months of May and June. If you, by any chance, take the decision of stepping out between 12 to 5 PM, you can expect to face a heat stroke or get blown away by a strong gust of warm air. This scorching heat has always been a part of Odisha’s weather. Read on to find out about our history of heat and ways to prevent it from affecting your health.
History of Heat Waves in Odisha
The year 1998 saw approximately 2000 deaths in Odisha, and the reason was not a deadly cyclone. It was Heat. The frightfully high temperatures causes the body temperature to rise and causes the inability to be lowered through sweat. The body goes into a seizure preceded by nausea and high heart rate. This is what happens during a heat stroke.
Ever since 1998, Odisha has been active in finding ways to beat the heat with most of the state going indoors during peak hours of heat, changing school timings, & making provisions for water in anganwadis.
Easy Ways to Deal with the Heat
Here are some simple ways to protect yourself from the aggressive summer heat of Odisha:
Drink Liquids
People of Odisha rely on plenty of liquids to keep themselves hydrated throughout the day. Apart from water, some popular Odia drinks you must include in your diet are:
- Bel Pana: Made from the pulp of the nutritious bel fruit (woodapple), this drink gives you a strong gut and acts as a blood purifier.
- Odia Lassi:Different from the lassi popular in other parts of India, Odisha’s lassi is characterised by garnished coconut, cashews, and a generous topping of sweet rabdi. The satiating drink under the throbbing heat gives an undoubted spell of relief. If you are in Bhubaneswar, don’t miss out on this delicious drink made at Lingaraj Lassi. The joint serves the best quality lassi in the city.
Moreover, every lane in the state offers several other delicious drinks sold in small stalls for people to keep themselves refreshed. Drinks like amba pana, nimbu pani and dahi sharbat are available at low prices for all to prevent the dangers of heat strokes. These small thelas are seen only during the summertime and are not found once the monsoon sets in.
Simple Food Items: Fried and spicy foods can be highly acidic for the stomach. Choose food that keeps your body light and fresh. Odisha’s very own pakhalais a popular choice for people. It is basically cooked rice fermented in water for few hours. The liquid part of Pakhala, also called Torani, has some excellent health benefits and is a must in most Odia households during summer:
- It strengthens the digestive system
- It is rich in vitamins and nutrients
- Studies have also suggested that it boosts immunity
- It helps in keeping the body cool
Apart from this meal of water and rice, raw mangoes are popularly used in Odisha as summer coolers. Two favourite dishes include amba chhechha and amba khatta. While the first one is a chutney, the latter is a pickle and both the food items are relished with meals by the people. Amba chhechha can be eaten as an appetiser as well. Click here for an easy recipe of the dish that you can cook within minutes.
It is also very important that you don’t skip meals in such weather. Important nutrients need to do their job after all!
Dress Light: It is important to befriend light cotton clothes, cover your face and head and carry an umbrella if you step out during the day time. Wearing synthetic clothes on such days can affect your skin and at the same time heat up your body real fast. Ensure that comfort is your first priority. To sustain yourself in the Odisha heat, cotton Ikkats are a trendy and comfortable choice to have in your daily wardrobe. The light fabric and unique design makes it a summer favourite.
The Summer of 2022 in Odisha
This year, because of the academic loss children faced in the past couple of years, the long summer vacations have been reduced to a period of 10 days in June. However, many private schools have asked children to attend classes online, but the uniformity of it is still unclear.
With temperatures already soaring in the month of March this year, the movement of public transportation was also restricted between 11 AM and 3 PM for respite from the heat wave. The timings were rescheduled accordingly.
Hence, the best time to enjoy the Odisha summers are before 11 AM or after 5 PM. Go out for an evening drive, enjoy early morning walks, but during sunny afternoons make sure to stay indoors and keep yourself and your loved ones safe! Happy Summer!
If you have been staying in Odisha for sometime, you know the dreadful summers that the state faces in the months of May and June. If you, by any chance, take the decision of stepping out between 12 to 5 PM, you can expect to face a heat stroke or get blown away by a strong gust of warm air. This scorching heat has always been a part of Odisha’s weather. Read on to find out about our history of heat and ways to prevent it from affecting your health.
History of Heat Waves in Odisha
The year 1998 saw approximately 2000 deaths in Odisha, and the reason was not a deadly cyclone. It was Heat. The frightfully high temperatures causes the body temperature to rise and causes the inability to be lowered through sweat. The body goes into a seizure preceded by nausea and high heart rate. This is what happens during a heat stroke.
Ever since 1998, Odisha has been active in finding ways to beat the heat with most of the state going indoors during peak hours of heat, changing school timings, & making provisions for water in anganwadis.
Easy Ways to Deal with the Heat
Here are some simple ways to protect yourself from the aggressive summer heat of Odisha:
Drink Liquids
People of Odisha rely on plenty of liquids to keep themselves hydrated throughout the day. Apart from water, some popular Odia drinks you must include in your diet are:
- Bel Pana: Made from the pulp of the nutritious bel fruit (woodapple), this drink gives you a strong gut and acts as a blood purifier.
- Odia Lassi:Different from the lassi popular in other parts of India, Odisha’s lassi is characterised by garnished coconut, cashews, and a generous topping of sweet rabdi. The satiating drink under the throbbing heat gives an undoubted spell of relief. If you are in Bhubaneswar, don’t miss out on this delicious drink made at Lingaraj Lassi. The joint serves the best quality lassi in the city.
Moreover, every lane in the state offers several other delicious drinks sold in small stalls for people to keep themselves refreshed. Drinks like amba pana, nimbu pani and dahi sharbat are available at low prices for all to prevent the dangers of heat strokes. These small thelas are seen only during the summertime and are not found once the monsoon sets in.
Simple Food Items: Fried and spicy foods can be highly acidic for the stomach. Choose food that keeps your body light and fresh. Odisha’s very own pakhalais a popular choice for people. It is basically cooked rice fermented in water for few hours. The liquid part of Pakhala, also called Torani, has some excellent health benefits and is a must in most Odia households during summer:
- It strengthens the digestive system
- It is rich in vitamins and nutrients
- Studies have also suggested that it boosts immunity
- It helps in keeping the body cool
Apart from this meal of water and rice, raw mangoes are popularly used in Odisha as summer coolers. Two favourite dishes include amba chhechha and amba khatta. While the first one is a chutney, the latter is a pickle and both the food items are relished with meals by the people. Amba chhechha can be eaten as an appetiser as well. Click here for an easy recipe of the dish that you can cook within minutes.
It is also very important that you don’t skip meals in such weather. Important nutrients need to do their job after all!
Dress Light: It is important to befriend light cotton clothes, cover your face and head and carry an umbrella if you step out during the day time. Wearing synthetic clothes on such days can affect your skin and at the same time heat up your body real fast. Ensure that comfort is your first priority. To sustain yourself in the Odisha heat, cotton Ikkats are a trendy and comfortable choice to have in your daily wardrobe. The light fabric and unique design makes it a summer favourite.
The Summer of 2022 in Odisha
This year, because of the academic loss children faced in the past couple of years, the long summer vacations have been reduced to a period of 10 days in June. However, many private schools have asked children to attend classes online, but the uniformity of it is still unclear.
With temperatures already soaring in the month of March this year, the movement of public transportation was also restricted between 11 AM and 3 PM for respite from the heat wave. The timings were rescheduled accordingly.
Hence, the best time to enjoy the Odisha summers are before 11 AM or after 5 PM. Go out for an evening drive, enjoy early morning walks, but during sunny afternoons make sure to stay indoors and keep yourself and your loved ones safe! Happy Summer!
