The scorching heat is on, but so are the ways to combat it. Ice cream and cold drink parlours are there, but the instant hits are the traditional beverages available in the roadside stalls.
Aam panna, jaljeera, thandai, sattu, lemon water andbel juice (wood apple) are the flavour of the season.
Almost every visitor to the Mahendru market has a glass of such roadside beverage. Most people preferlassi and jaljeera as they leave a cooling effect on hot summer afternoons.
Even at the railway station, the beverage stalls are almost always crowded. The price of the drinks has gone up, and so has the demand as fluids are the best source to quench thirst and beat the heat when the sun is blazing right overhead.
People say the roadside drinks also give them some much-required energy under trying circumstances.
Outside the Patna Junction, a number of people were seen drinking glass after glass of cool drinks.
Pankaj Kumar, who took a lassi break, told The Telegraph: “Drinking lassi is good in summer. Thy are serving both sweet and salted lassi, but I prefer salted lassi as it helps combat sweat. I think the best way to keep the body cool during summer is to drink lots of fluids like water, lemon water, lassi, fruit juice and of course sattu.â€
Another customer at a roadside shop, Nandan Bhelari, said: “Not only are beverages better in summer, but they are also cheaper than junk food like pizza and chowmein.â€
The price of traditional drinks is affordable and every common man can enjoy it. While lassi costs Rs 15, mango lassi is available for Rs 25 and lassi with malai is Rs 20.Aam panna is available for Rs 5, jaljeera for Rs 7, sattu for Rs 6, lemon water for Rs 3 and bel juice for Rs 10.
“Today there are a number of drinks available that refill the body in this scorching heat. But traditional drink is still a favourite among customers. They are best for our health in summer. Lemon water is good for refreshment purpose, it not only quenches our thirst, but also makes our body cool in hot summer days,†said Yogendra Paswan, owner of a shop on Boring Road.
Rupesh Ranjan, while enjoying a glass of aam panna, said: “It is a popular cold drink and a lovely refreshing drink that helps fight the heat during such a heat wave. Raw mango, fresh mint and some spices are used to make this healthy beverage and I enjoy all that.â€
The ingredients of these drinks are simple and anyone can make it. For sattu, all that one needs to do is mix the powder with water and it is ready.
However, many sellers love to add a pinch of black salt, pepper, a bit of garlic, lemon juice and chilly to enhance its taste.
Similarly, to prepare wood apple bel juice, all that needs to be done is extract the pulp, remove the seeds and other gummy material and then mix it with water, followed by addition of some sugar and a pinch of peppered salt.
The drink is ready.
The sellers are overjoyed.
Ram Prasad, who sells bel juice near the old secretariat, said: “People going to their offices always drink the beljuice that I prepare. The price of these drinks is at Rs 10 per glass. Thus, it is no big deal,†he adds.