The Magical Motif of Mangoes in Memory

#25- It is that time of the year to celebrate the deep rooted love and desire Indians have for this luscious fruit. The post is a testimonial to this tasty treat.

Summer is here. Spring passes the baton to its annual successor. Summers are warmed up to lead from hereon. This transition period also brings a period of self- reflection : air is filled with conversations of exams, appraisal discussions , increments, and financial year closing for businesses. After the new year in Jan, this is the period where people reflect over their plan & purpose. But this period is not just about an intense period of pondering over productivity. It is also the time that tickles the taste buds with a timeless classic : mangoes. 

Fruits are an acquired taste. There are people who would swear by it and then there are people who cannot stand it. But mangoes hit the sweet spot. Those who don’t write anthems lauding the fruit, do not write hate songs either. The likeability index usually ranges between positive and neutral. People who dislike mangoes are part of a rare, maybe even endangered species. 

As soon as the season commences, the anticipation of mangoes is akin to awaiting the arrival of a loved one. Just the thought brings a salivating smile. This penchant cuts across age and demographics. Eating the first mango of the season is an occasion. A celebration. A tale to be told.

There is personal involvement at every step. People cultivate deep rooted knowledge. They develop a nuanced understanding, like a doctoral student, about every step in the ‘pluck to plate’ journey of mangoes. They learn on the job. Their eyes have been trained over the years, to skillfully dissect a mango ( without cutting) that helps in a worthy purchase. What follows is pride over the prowess of the purchase. 

The process is nothing short of the 4S’s of wine tasting ( See, Sniff, Swirl and Sip). Relishing a mango has its own 5S’s - See, Sniff, Slice, Salivate & Savor.

Mangoes and Memories 

A core memory of mangoes for me is at my maternal grandparents’ home during the summer vacations. During the summer holidays, Sundays had a mango ritual. It started with careful curation at the market. A critical component of the plan was not to rush the purchase from the first hawker we encountered, but to persist and go deeper into the market to find the best deal. This was followed by activating the olfactory senses - sniff attack.

After rounds of bargaining and returning home with pride, the fresh shopped mangoes were pulled out of the bag, soaked in a bucket of water for some time. They swam along the surface like aimless ships, colliding with each other before settling in their respective territories. After that, grandma would pull them out and slice them for everyone in an old style cutting knife board. 

The cutting was a job meant for the seasoned. It required patience, precision and most importantly perseverance. It wasn’t just about the sharp edge of the knife, but also to have the generosity to not gobble away half of the prized possession while cutting it. This was something clearly kids couldn't be trusted with. 

The chopped pieces were presented on a platter ( sometimes after refrigeration) for everyone to relish. Now as a kid, the strategy is straightforward - secure maximum pieces for yourself and maybe show your generosity with the ‘guthli’ for others to take. You definitely bite and devour much more than what you can chew. Competitive streak overpowered calm enjoyment of each bite. 

A group that had age groups ranging from 7 to 70+, all sat on the floor on a warm Sunday afternoon and relished each bite. Age didn’t matter. Maturity didn’t matter. All that mattered was being lost in the taste. One look around the room and the collective happiness was unmeasurable.

A family member,a diabetic, happily skips his lunch, at least for 2-3 days each month during the season. A couple of mangoes would substitute the lunch. The stated reason- blood sugar would balance itself out with the reduction of other carbs. There was no way he lets the season pass without doing this. This is someone who otherwise religiously tracks blood glucose levels through a glucometer, refrains from most desserts throughout the year and eats a balanced diet. But when it came to mangoes, an exception must be made. An alternate way is unacceptable.

Similarly a friend who is very particular about his health- eats the right portions everyday, resists temptations, participates in triathlons, makes an exception for mangoes. His love for the fruit is so unadulterated and heartfelt that he even breaks his otherwise social media shy approach and shares pictures of relishing mangoes. 

I am certain that everyone has a mango related memory that still brings a smile to their face. If you ask them to think and narrate a mango related story, the elated eyes and the wide smile says it all. It is akin to narrating a story of unconditional love. 

But why does mango stand out amongst the other fruits? Is the factor just taste? Or is it the  ‘summer limited edition’ availability that elevates desire? The association of mangoes and Indians goes far back in history. 

Indian association with mangoes

The Indian association with mango is deep rooted. It is an indigenous fruit, whose cultivation goes back to almost 4000+ years. The origin of mango is said to be between North East India, Myanmar and modern day Bangladesh. The scientific name Mangifera Indica also alludes to its origin in the Indian subcontinent. Right from its etymology to mentions across religious scriptures of Hinduism and Buddhism, mangoes have secured a prominent position in the Indian cultural panorama. 

The intersection of mangoes with the cultural fabric goes beyond the fruit. During festivals, toran ( gate towers) made of mango leaf is put as an auspicious symbol. Most cultures have inventive delicacies prepared during the season using the raw mango like pickles, chutneys, dals and aam panna. The tangy, lip smacking piquancy elevates our already flavorful meals.

And of course there is the delightful toothsome taste of aam-ras, mango milkshakes, icecreams, shrikhand. The season sees a volcanic eruption of these delicacies. The delicate interplay of mango, milk at an operative cool temperature is an irresistible taste explosion.  

Pop culture has happily addressed this desire through their narratives over the years. There are beverage brands, juices that bank on this indulgent love of Indians for mangoes. Advertising has added a  seductive appeal to the fruit and its consumption by creating visual symbols of tempt. 

For years, Katrina Kaif and the whole ‘Aamsutra’ campaign became the mainstay template to demonstrate the desire Indians have for mangoes. 

So time to take a pause, pick that mango and express your desire for it. It doesn’t matter if you are an Alphonso person or Begampalli, Kesar or Dashahari. The only thing that matters now is to express desire for mangoes. Do your signature Katrina pose and follow the 5 S process - See, Sniff, Slice, Salivate & Savor.