Summer in
India heralds the season of the Delicious n Juicy Fruits like Aam / Mangoes, along with the Litchi / Lychee, Tarboj / Watermelons n Kharbooja / Mashmelons.
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| Soak the Mangoes in water to reduce n wash off Pitta (heat) |
While I like them all, my personal fav among them, is most definitely the delightful Mango, referred to as the ‘King of Fruits’ n also ‘the Nectar of the Gods’. You can savour the ripe mangoes fresh from the trees or make pickles or chutneys or moraba (jam) from the unripe ones or quench your thirst with chilled summer drinks like Aam panna or refreshing Mango Shake or even Punjabi Mango laasi or merely devour them as katha-meetha aam papad or sweet mango kheer for desert.
While I have been praising this stately fruit, let me not forget the MANGO TREE, which happens to be one of the most majestic trees here in
India - what with their tall n thick trunk, dense foliage, with wide spreading branches forming a Magnificent Umbrella Canopy.
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Four Mango-laden Trees growing in our side yard, form a near perfect Umbrella Canopy together.....
What I really like about these trees is that they form one large single unit together, while, up close they are four different trees. We need to learn something from them.... they don't jostle for space, they each seem happy and contend growing harmoniously together. |
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Helpers collecting n picking mangoes, hand plucked by the gardener high up on the branches.
Can you spot the gardener precariously perched between the dark n dense foliage above (right) ????
Basket n Baskets full of Dusheri Mangoes is ready to be savoured. |
We have some 8-10 mango trees growing in our yard here in the city n another sprawling 45 acres of Mango grove in
Nawabgunj countryside, about 150 Kms from here, specializing in the Rose tinted Gulab khas, Green Dusheri, Yellow Zardalu, Langra, Chausa, Safeeda varieties of mangoes n other lesser known varieties - Makhan, Fakira, maste-anar, katha-meetha, dil-pasand, kishen-bhog, shakul.
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Our Mango grove @ Nawabgunj countryside - old trees interspersed with some recent plantations.
Some More Mango Trees... |
The mango grove initially belonged to the last ruling Nawab of Oudh, Nawab Nawajid Ali n his family and was established way back in 1906. It is believed that about 1000 saplings of the rose flavoured ‘Gulab khas’ variety, came all the way from Afghanistan. These trees are a little over 100 yrs old.
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The Rose Flavoured Mangoes i.e. 'Gulab Khas' originally from Afghanistan
Its a highly delicate variety, as the mangoes tend to spoil even if pressed gently n have to be handled with utmost care. |
After independence,
Rani Rehula Shakuntala, is known to have bought 215 bigha’s of Mango grove from the Nawab. After the Indo-Pak partition, the Rani permanently shifted base to
Pakistan, selling this property to my grandfather,
in 1960’s. As a little kid, I used to be fascinated with this bit of history n other tell-tales associated with
Nawabgunj. In retrospect, I have come to appreciate the bounty and marvel of Nature, trees, flowers, fruits, plants, art of bonsai, the whole gamut of beautiful greens around us.
Here’s another interesting tale about Mango Tree’s from ‘The Book of Nature’ by Ruskin Bond.
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| Mango Blossoms... |
In the Folklore of India, the Mango is considered to be a ‘wish fulfilling tree’ or 'Make-a-Wish' Tree.
So, when you want to make a wish on a mango tree, shut your eyes and get someone to lead you to the tree; then rub mango blossoms in your hands and make a wish.
The favour granted lasts only for a year and the charm must be performed again at the next flowering of the tree.
So,
Go ahead....... n Make a Wish! For all you know, it might just get granted.
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| Blossom giving way to Bunch of Mangoes...high up on the Tree. |
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Finally.... the Fruits of Labour... Dusheri Mangoes (Desapped, Soaked, Washed n Dried)
Unripe ones well suited for making pickles n aam panna (green mango drink)
Too bad, I just read about the folklore only recently, and so could not 'make-a-wish' this flowering season but, yeah, I intend to give it a try, during the next mango flowering season, come Spring. I have already started working on my rather long 'WISH LIST' and hoping that the Mango Tree would grant them all. Amen.
My entry for Outdoor Wednesday # 128 |
