Koraput: Families across the state are stocking up on lemon juice, cold drinks, varieties of squash and jal zeera to quench thirst as summer takes hold.

But, members of the district's tribal communities, however, welcome guests with an altogether different drink during this season.

Rooted as they are in the earth, the members of the tribal communities keep themselves cool with one of their special diets known as mandia pej (a soup made of ragi powder and stale water from boiled rice).

"Cold drinks available in the market contain chemicals and are harmful for the body. Besides, those are sold in urban and semi-urban areas. Either way, those are not available at our village," said Raimati Durua of Siribeda village under Boipariguda block in the district.

"We drink lots of mandia pej to keep our body cool. It is prepared in all households. And as it is devoid of any chemicals, there is no harm in drinking it," Durua said.

Almost all tribal families of the village prepare mandia pej for their daily consumption. Local villagers said the preparation of the drink was very simple.

After powdering the ragi, it is mixed with the stale water from boiled rice and kept in a covered container for a couple of days. Once the soup tastes sour, it is ready for consumption.

The significance of the liquid diet in a tribal's life can be best judged from how it is also sold at haats (weekly markets).

Any tribal, man or woman, visiting the haat cannot stay without drinking a glass of mandia pej. In fact, the daily labourers, while going to work, carry containers of mandia pej for to supplement their lunch.

The drink has no ill effects on one's health.

"From children to the elderly, everyone consumes mandia pej. It is a famous drink to all and sundry. Apart from keeping the body cool, it has high nutritional value compared to rice and wheat. During summers, we reduce rice consumption and instead drink mandia pej. As the drink is a healthy preparation, there is no limit to consuming it," said another Siribeda resident.