Lakshmi Puja Stalls Bring Hope To Streets
Srishti Singh | Oct 12, 2025, 13:22 IST
As Dhenkanal celebrates Lakshmi Puja, its streets come alive with stalls run by vendors from across India, turning the festival into a source of livelihood and hope. Amid colours, crafts, and faith, each stall tells a story of hard work, dreams, and quiet perseverance.
As Lakshmi Puja lights up Dhenkanal, the town streets shimmer with more than just colours, they hum with hope and determination. Stalls selling everything from clothes and handcrafted bags to toys and accessories line the roads, each run by vendors who travel miles, carrying dreams of earning a livelihood.
Surendra Shaw, a street vendor from Cuttack, has been coming to Dhenkanal for eight years, continuing a family tradition that’s lasted 15 years. “Every festival is a chance to earn and support my family. The experience here is very nice, and the government facilities like water and washrooms help us a lot,” he says, his eyes reflecting both pride and hope.
Sangeeta, from Rajasthan, arranges her oxidised jewellery neatly on her stall. “I’ve been coming here for three years. Last time sales were good… this year, the puja just started, so we’ll see,” she smiles, carrying the quiet optimism of someone who depends on these few festive days for her living.
Inside the mini stadium, a small fair showcases stalls from pickles and toys to accessories. Payal Sahoo, a nursing student from Puri, is managing her family’s handcrafted bag stall for the first time. “My family was busy, so I stepped in. These bags are made in a day, handcrafted and machine-made. I really enjoy the puja,” she says, balancing studies and responsibility with ease.
Even spiritual corners join the marketplace. The ISKCON temple, near Dakhinakali Road bypass, has set up a shop inside the stadium, drawing crowds and witnessing high sales, especially of the Bhagwat Gita.
But as the city glows with celebration, not every story sparkles equally. On one corner, 9-year-old Rakhi makes chapatis beside her family’s toy stall. They’ve come all the way from Madhya Pradesh, travelling wherever festivals bring crowds. “The government hasn’t given us any facilities,” her parents say softly. “We even face discrimination for coming from another state.” Yet, despite the hardships, they stay, hoping that each puja, each smile, brings them a little closer to a better life.
From colourful rides to the aroma of street food, every stall tells a story of perseverance and dreams. For these vendors, Lakshmi Puja isn’t just a festival, it’s a lifeline, a celebration of hope and survival.
Surendra Shaw, a street vendor from Cuttack, has been coming to Dhenkanal for eight years, continuing a family tradition that’s lasted 15 years. “Every festival is a chance to earn and support my family. The experience here is very nice, and the government facilities like water and washrooms help us a lot,” he says, his eyes reflecting both pride and hope.
Sangeeta, from Rajasthan, arranges her oxidised jewellery neatly on her stall. “I’ve been coming here for three years. Last time sales were good… this year, the puja just started, so we’ll see,” she smiles, carrying the quiet optimism of someone who depends on these few festive days for her living.
Inside the mini stadium, a small fair showcases stalls from pickles and toys to accessories. Payal Sahoo, a nursing student from Puri, is managing her family’s handcrafted bag stall for the first time. “My family was busy, so I stepped in. These bags are made in a day, handcrafted and machine-made. I really enjoy the puja,” she says, balancing studies and responsibility with ease.
Even spiritual corners join the marketplace. The ISKCON temple, near Dakhinakali Road bypass, has set up a shop inside the stadium, drawing crowds and witnessing high sales, especially of the Bhagwat Gita.
But as the city glows with celebration, not every story sparkles equally. On one corner, 9-year-old Rakhi makes chapatis beside her family’s toy stall. They’ve come all the way from Madhya Pradesh, travelling wherever festivals bring crowds. “The government hasn’t given us any facilities,” her parents say softly. “We even face discrimination for coming from another state.” Yet, despite the hardships, they stay, hoping that each puja, each smile, brings them a little closer to a better life.
From colourful rides to the aroma of street food, every stall tells a story of perseverance and dreams. For these vendors, Lakshmi Puja isn’t just a festival, it’s a lifeline, a celebration of hope and survival.