A customer buys a pitcher at Buddha Colony roundabout in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, March 27: Summer is set to peak. So is the wish to have cool water to quench thirst.

Most of the citizens stock water in refrigerators around this time of the year. Yet, the demand for earthen pitchers has gone up. Even though refrigerators cool the water faster, at least one earthen pitcher can be traced in each household. Saraswati Devi, who sells earthen pitchers at Bahadurpur, said: “In the past five days, I have sold at least 70 earthen pitchers.”

People claim pitchers are most effective in cooling water. Reason: Refrigerators often overcool water.

Amit Kumar Poddar, a resident of Boring Canal Road area, said: “Refrigerators are fast — they cool the water faster and make ice. Nowadays, there are so many kinds of refrigerators with five-way cooling technology and door cooling systems. But it is nothing great. Refrigerators cool the water but we also suffer from sore throat after gulping chilled water. The water is not good for children. Water cooled in pitchers is far better. People who drink water from earthen pitchers will tell you that it is much more refreshing.”

Ritu Kumari, a homemaker, had her reasons for buying earthen pitchers. She said: “Its water will always be refreshing and will quench your thirst. You will notice many people have turned to earthen pitchers even though they have refrigerators. Today, everyone looks for things that work fast but there are many people like me who choose earthen pitchers over refrigerators. We know that every process takes its own time and drinking water too, should be cooled according to the room temperature. Otherwise, it can give you a sore throat.”

Sikandar, an earthen water pot-seller at Police Line Colony, said: “The minimum price of earthen pitchers is Rs 50. It goes up to Rs 300 for pitchers that can store 60l water.

The 15l pots are priced at Rs 60, 20l at Rs 100, 30l at Rs 150 and 50l at Rs 250. The 60l pots are mostly bought by small hotel and dhabas.”