Odisha’s Winter Mornings – Fog, Woollen Shawls and Hot Tea

Winter in Odisha is gentle compared to northern extremes, but it has its own personality. Early mornings in December and January often begin with a light fog. Fields look like they’re hiding under a thin white blanket. Bicycle bells sound softer, and distant temple bells feel closer.

In cities and towns, people wrap shawls and monkey caps, clutching hot steel glasses of tea at roadside stalls. Steam from the boiling kettle mixes with fog, creating a comforting haze. Breakfast menus shift to include ghee-laden pithas, upma, poha and sometimes leftover curry with hot roti.

Schools start a bit later, with winter timing. Children drag their feet out of warm blankets, complaining, while mothers talk about washing and drying clothes in weaker sunlight.

Winter is also wedding season. Loud band music, decorated pandals and long queues at buffet counters become common weekend sights. The air is filled with laughter, conch sounds and the clinking of steel plates. For many Odias living outside, these are the images that rush back when they think of 'home winters'.