Come April, Come May, Come June ... As soon as the summer season starts kicking in, some things that instantly would pop up in your mind, especially as a teenager (which I was some years back) are - Summer Vacations, No Schools, Only Sports - Cricket, Swimming, Sports Club, Ellisbridge Gymkhana, Karnavati Club, Lots of Movies and of-course the King of Fruits - Mangoes !!!
With the summer season going on back in India in Ahmedabad, the mangoes have already started making the rounds, with prices shooting up or going down(which is rarely seen), imports and exports increasing, be it a 7 year old child or a 70 year old elder, everyone is digging their teeth and treating themselves to the mangoes, in all sorts, mango shakes, mango rolls, mango pieces and the best of all - apdo "Keri noh Ras" ...
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As a child, I used to devour upon these mangoes all day long in the summers. Mom would specially take out more "Ras" for me so that even after lunch I can take it as a desert later in the afternoon. I remember I used to hate the threads (resa) which used to accompany the sweet ras, but still couldnt help holding back and would gobble it up. "Alphonso" the best of the best in Mangoes, and it would be almost everyone's "noor of the eye" ...
Most of us, are also fond of sucking to the mangoes, with its skin on, then creating a hole on the top and just keep on enjoying the taste of the sweetness flowing from that fruit. Then comes the turn of the big seed called "gotla" ... Gotlas were favorites for cooking with oil and some spices to be eaten as a snack. Some small kids would also get a treat of a roll called "Keri noh papad" which is made by spreading the ras on a flat pan and letting it dry in the sun.
Its been almost 4 years now since I have tasted mangoes, and its other forms. Of-course one would get the same here in the US, but no fun like sitting in a patio, on a swing, in shorts, on a warm summer afternoon, having 2-3 mangoes by your side, swinging in the warm breeze, and eating and sucking those mangoes to the fullest...NOTHING CAN BEAT IT FRIENDS !!!!
My best memory during these summer vacations would be, having Keri noh Ras, Rice, Ghee, Sunth all mixed up and eating it with Papads....And then turning the fan on at 3-4 points, letting a cool breeze flow, cover the windows with drapes, turn the TV on, lay back and just drift away in a splendid summer afternoon nap snoring away feeling satisfied as if on the Top of the World !!!
Of-course then comes the fun part in the evening, just constantly tirelessly keep on playing cricket hitting the ball all over the ground, visiting friends, going for movies, especially Drive-In, enjoying to the fullest and then come back and have pieces of mangoes again at night along with some mango thick shakes ...
Phew ! What a Life it was and What Summers Were Those !!!
Alphonso, Cricket, Ratnagiri, Tennis, Devgadh, Swimming, Kesar, Movies, Langdo, Picnics, Payri, Afternoon naps.....
I know most of you would have experienced something of the same intensity and happiness and the lucky ones are still able to do so back home.. So feel free to share your best experiences from the Summers and the Mangoes season...
Cheers
Samkit
With the summer season going on back in India in Ahmedabad, the mangoes have already started making the rounds, with prices shooting up or going down(which is rarely seen), imports and exports increasing, be it a 7 year old child or a 70 year old elder, everyone is digging their teeth and treating themselves to the mangoes, in all sorts, mango shakes, mango rolls, mango pieces and the best of all - apdo "Keri noh Ras" ...
Click "READ MORE" to read the entire post ...
As a child, I used to devour upon these mangoes all day long in the summers. Mom would specially take out more "Ras" for me so that even after lunch I can take it as a desert later in the afternoon. I remember I used to hate the threads (resa) which used to accompany the sweet ras, but still couldnt help holding back and would gobble it up. "Alphonso" the best of the best in Mangoes, and it would be almost everyone's "noor of the eye" ...
Most of us, are also fond of sucking to the mangoes, with its skin on, then creating a hole on the top and just keep on enjoying the taste of the sweetness flowing from that fruit. Then comes the turn of the big seed called "gotla" ... Gotlas were favorites for cooking with oil and some spices to be eaten as a snack. Some small kids would also get a treat of a roll called "Keri noh papad" which is made by spreading the ras on a flat pan and letting it dry in the sun.
Its been almost 4 years now since I have tasted mangoes, and its other forms. Of-course one would get the same here in the US, but no fun like sitting in a patio, on a swing, in shorts, on a warm summer afternoon, having 2-3 mangoes by your side, swinging in the warm breeze, and eating and sucking those mangoes to the fullest...NOTHING CAN BEAT IT FRIENDS !!!!
My best memory during these summer vacations would be, having Keri noh Ras, Rice, Ghee, Sunth all mixed up and eating it with Papads....And then turning the fan on at 3-4 points, letting a cool breeze flow, cover the windows with drapes, turn the TV on, lay back and just drift away in a splendid summer afternoon nap snoring away feeling satisfied as if on the Top of the World !!!
Of-course then comes the fun part in the evening, just constantly tirelessly keep on playing cricket hitting the ball all over the ground, visiting friends, going for movies, especially Drive-In, enjoying to the fullest and then come back and have pieces of mangoes again at night along with some mango thick shakes ...
Phew ! What a Life it was and What Summers Were Those !!!
Alphonso, Cricket, Ratnagiri, Tennis, Devgadh, Swimming, Kesar, Movies, Langdo, Picnics, Payri, Afternoon naps.....
I know most of you would have experienced something of the same intensity and happiness and the lucky ones are still able to do so back home.. So feel free to share your best experiences from the Summers and the Mangoes season...
Cheers
Samkit
4 comments:
Yeah I do agree that nothing can beat indian summer ras experience....but I am having a similar experience of having ghar no ras more than 10k miles away from home!!!!!
Summer vacations were SO the best part of school life!! I absolutely miss them! I always liked eating mangoes more than mango ice-cream or shake or (and this will sound weird) even ras. But the whole summer vacation package of mangoes and feeling really hot and the sound of the fan at blazing speeds and the bliss when you walk into the AC room at night and sleep like a baby and no studying to do and the constant 'ramva jau chhu!'... I could go on and on! I guess I am still a student so I can hope to have a summer vacation again some day - but you guys have no hope! :) Just kidding..
Missing you lot eveyday seeing mangoes here in Ahmedabad.no single day without remembering you especially for mangoes and trying to send you Ras with someone.
I hope, in next summer you shall be here in Ahmedabad as you have missed Indian mangoes last four summers.
Is it a promise to us?
Yes, I too miss all the fun of summer vacations & vacation trips of my childhood.
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