Bhubaneswar: In a unique way to spend time during 24-hour nationwide strike called by various trade unions, the air passengers were spotted enjoying their time by singing Bhajans at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) .

The tourists from several parts of Delhi began 'kirtan' to honour Lord Jagannath and Lord Krishna during Bharat Bandh at Bhubaneswar Airport in the morning.

According to reports, around 700 tourists from Delhi had visited Odisha recently. After paying obeisances to Lord Jagannath at Srimandir in pilgrim town Puri, they were to depart today by various air carriers from Bhubaneswar Airport. In view of Bharat Bandh, the travel agency that had made all their bookings for their trip to Odisha had dropped them at the airport at 5.00 am, long before their flight schedules, to avoid inconveniences due to nationwide strike.

Instead of creating ruckus at the airport, the tourists enjoyed their time by singing Bhajans on its premises.

"We have been sitting here since 3.00 am without having breakfast and tea. However, we spent quality time by performing Bhajans and Kirtan with other passengers, a tourist from Paschim Vihar, Delhi said.

Clapping their hands and moving to beats of songs with devotion, the air passengers appeared happy with others beneath sky even as the shutdown disrupted normal life outside airport. The Bhajans reverberated entire campus with the music of Tannumai, a percussion instrument.

"My flight is scheduled at 2.00 pm. The Bharat Bandh put no effect on us as we enjoyed it with others by singing Bhajans on premises of the airport. Those who are in politics, are observing the Bandh. But we remained unaffected," another passenger said.

"We will wait for our flights. Till that period, we will do satsang and bhajans," said the women tourists chanting 'Radhe Radhe'.

"There is no Bandh for us, rather we are enjoying it under guidance of our spiritual guru. Neither we are observing any shutdown, nor supporting it. We had no problem so far and we will go back to our destinations boarding respective flights," one of the tourists said.

They tourists from Delhi termed the Bharat Bandh as 'inappropriate'. They appealed to the protestors not to hit the streets to create obstructions for common people.

"Bandh is not a solution to an issue, rather it creates problems for public and commuters," said a woman air passenger.