BHUBANESWAR – The capital city bid farewell to 2025 with an extraordinary culinary frenzy, recording non-vegetarian ("Amish") sales worth a staggering ₹7.01 crore on December 31. As the year ended on a Wednesday—a traditional non-vegetarian day—residents spared no expense on fish, meat, and poultry to fuel their midnight celebrations.
However, the scene shifted dramatically today, January 1. With the New Year debuting on a Thursday, many residents have pivoted to vegetarian meals for religious reasons, leaving the usually bustling Amish markets largely deserted.
Traders who witnessed record-breaking queues yesterday reported a significant slump in business this morning. Despite the festive spirit and vibrant fireworks lighting up the state, the shift in the lunar calendar has brought a temporary lull to the city's meat industry, marking a quiet, spiritual start to 2026 after a night of high-octane indulgence.