There’s something magical about mango season in Maharashtra, especially when it comes to the king of fruits — the Alphonso mango.
For many of us Maharashtrians, mangoes are not just a fruit…they are an emotion, a tradition, and a beautiful part of our identity. I still remember the days when we lived abroad — the most eagerly awaited parcels from my mother were always boxes filled with fragrant Alphonso mangoes from home. Opening those boxes felt like opening a piece of Maharashtra itself.
Come April and May, our kitchens revolve around mangoes. Breakfasts, lunches, dinners — every meal finds a way to celebrate this delicious fruit. From rich and silky Amras to creamy Amrakhand, melt-in-the-mouth Amba Barfi, and the refreshing Aam Panha that cools us during the scorching summer heat — mangoes become a part of our daily routine.
And honestly, what better food for summer? When temperatures soar, and heavy meals don’t appeal, mangoes provide the perfect nourishment. They are packed with energy, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and natural sweetness. There’s a common myth that mangoes make you gain weight — perhaps only if you overindulge after a heavy meal! But this seasonal delight is far too precious to avoid. We wait an entire year for these few beautiful months.
Mangoes also hold a sacred place in Maharashtrian culture. During festivals, poojas, weddings, and auspicious occasions, mango leaves adorn the entrances of our homes as symbols of positivity and prosperity.
India, of course, is blessed with many wonderful varieties of mangoes beyond the Alphonso — the sweet Dasheri from North India, Langra from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Kesar from Gujarat, Banganapalli from Andhra Pradesh, Totapuri from the South, and Mankurad from Goa — each with its own unique flavour and story.
For me, mangoes are tied deeply to childhood memories. I must have been only three years old when, during one summer vacation, my parents suddenly couldn’t find me anywhere in the house. Panic set in. Then my father, knowing my love for mangoes, checked the dining room — and there I was, happily sitting on the table eating my fifth mango! Worried, they rushed me to our paediatrician, who laughed and said, “Let her eat as many as she wants — nothing will happen!”
And life truly comes full circle. Just last week, my little granddaughter Aaria recreated the same scene. We found her sitting at the dining table, gleefully eating mangoes straight out of a freshly bought box. Some traditions, it seems, are inherited naturally.
So, this mango season, don’t hold yourself back. Celebrate it. Relish every bite. Make memories around it. Because May isn’t just summer in Maharashtra — it’s truly Mango Mania time!