You say Summer, we see the change in weather that brings a lot of possibilities to celebrate life. You mention scorching heat, we fondly remember the nostalgic days filled with coconut ice-cream sticks, diving into the rivers, playing colors, drinking panas, and the aroma of delicious pithas.
Despite various setbacks, the Summer is celebrated with great enthusiasm as the earth brings seasonal changes while we humans find ways to celebrate the changes.
On that note, let’s reminisce about those nostalgic times filled with the joys of summer.
Village fair:
Another nostalgic event that forces us to remember the Summer is the village fair. Some villages might still be organizing fairs, however, the then infectious interest of people in fairs is incomparable. Packed with delicious foods and attractive things, summer fairs were worth waiting a year for.
Summer festivals:
Making the Summer more joyous and fun, festivals add the cherry on the top. Although we still observe these festivals, the charm of old ways is hard to find. From Pana Sankranti and Dola Purnima to Maha Shivratri and Raja Parba, the aromas of traditional pithas, drinks, and the air filled with fun, joy, and people, signed for celebratory Summer.
The fragrance of mango flowers:
Marking the beginning of a hot Summer, what becomes the star is the Mango flowers. Wrapping up of winter and the onset of spring is painted in these little white Mango flowers, producing a wave of delight for the eyes. Now carrying only a glimpse of visual memories, this mild fragrance and sweet flowers used to fill the air with the anticipation of delicious mangoes while weaving a fairytale.
Embracing water streams:
While the sun is busy radiating its warm rays, in a typical Indian village kids start diving into the river water. Splashing and sprinkling water with each other, and washing away all the stress of school, teachers, and homework- the great escape way of summer time which they always looked forward to.
Waiting for Ice-cream wala:
How else do you remember relishing the flavor of Summer besides savoring ice cream? The ice cream treats of those days were simple, consisting of rectangular coconut cubes or colored ice sticks. And the zeal and impatience to hear the sound of an ice creamwala’s bell were more pronounced than announcing a death sentence!
Television mania:
Summer days were lazy. Longer days with heightened heat force us to seek the cool shadows under home or trees. Besides taking long naps, there was Television to engage us. From Shaktiman, Shaka Laka Boom Boom, to Son Pari, and Hatim, the pristine Summer of the old days were unforgettable.
Morning classes:
While the hot summer granted us morning classes, it also gave us more time to play, take naps, and go on various adventures, like gathering plums, tamarinds, and many others. Unfortunately, these days our kids are mainly engaged with extra classes and tuition.
Feasting on Mangoes:
The sight of a mango tree full of mangoes was something that helped many kids to get up in the morning and go to school. From tiny raw mangoes to the yellow, red ripe ones, they never got any breaks from being savored with great delight. Besides mangoes, there were also tamarind, cashew fruits, and jackfruit, among others.
The adventure of plucking plums:
The Summer is also known as the harvesting time for Indian plums. The tempting aroma of ripe plums filled our Summer days with a tart and spicy plum pickle that made our life worth living under the sky. From children to adults, all savored this delicacy equally.
Time with night sky:
After a long day of activities, we sit together on the roof or an open field and stare at the sky counting stars or even discuss our life problems knowing little about the world other than us.
By- Supalee Dalai