The famous Mayurbhanj Mudhi (puffed rice) is fast losing its crispness and taste due to infiltration of machine mudhi all over.

The people of Mayrubhanj have a penchant for the puffed rice which constitutes their major food item. Be it a normal day, a festival time or ceremony, the mudhi is a preferred item and is consumed with various other delicacies.

Mudhi making used to be a major chore in every household in the district and areas like Belakuti, Khunta, Udala, Bisoi, Bangiposi, Chitrada, Bahalada and Thakurmunda are famous for mudhi production as each household produces mudhi in the traditional mode out of clay pot and bamboo sticks (kunchi-kathi).

Fine sand is put on the clay pot where bran rice is poured and fried with the help of the bamboo sticks to produce mudhi.

However, this way of mudhi making has now become a thing of past.

Because modern women do not find time, nor are they committed enough to undergo through such cumbersome process of mudhi making, the machine made mudhi has largely replaced the traditional mudhi, said Baninani of Chhuruni village under Khunta block who still prepares mudhi in a traditional mode.

The wooden chullas have also been replaced with gas stoves due to acute shortage of firewood, said she.

Still some women on every Thursday and Sunday come to towns to sell their traditional mudhi which is of great demand these days. Its cost also has gone higher from Rs 30 to now Rs 70 per a tin-a standard bagful of mudhi.

It is alleged that urea and other fertilisers are applied to get bigger size mudhi in machine but the mudhi is tasteless.

The mudhi-makers of Andhra who have infiltrated into the traditional mudhi market of Mayurbhanj are selling the machine mudhi for a fast buck.

Mudhi is served with khasi (mutton curry), ghuguni, pakodi, chop and curd. The condiments enhance its tastes which no costly burger or pizza can ensure.

The DRDA’s effort in strengthening economy of mudhi producing women through SHGs has been lauded but it fails to revive the traditional mode of preparing the bran-rice from selected varieties here, said former PD, DRDA Satya Mallik in whose tenure funds were released to revive the mudhi making enterprises.