Down memory lane.- GOA

Down memory lane. Author unknown The month of May of yesteryear was different from the May of today in many ways. lt was a month for buying provisions for the monsoon. People bought onions, chillies, rock salt, salt fish, pulses, souring agents etc in sufficient quantity to last for the monsoon period. There were no supermarkets or Amazon to order things online. People bought their requirements from the village "posro". May was a time for seasonal fruits like mangoes, jackfruit, cashews and berries all grown organically. Mangoes were ripened in hay and never with chemicals. People made mango jam, mango cheese and jackfruit sweets. I haven't tasted cashew apple in the last 15 years. Our hills are bald now. The only cashew we see is the one that comes in bottles. Community litanies were held in May at the holy cross structures and chapels followed by a serving of sweets and that popular and indispensable item "chonne" (boiled gram). People also attended to their health in the month of May. They went to the beach for a brisk walk or putting sand packs on their knees and feet. A thing to be appreciated is that the beaches were clean and so was the seawater. One never saw empty beer bottles or plastic anywhere. An interesting thing took note of in the course of seawater bath that people had in May. They had great faith in the saltwater bath as it improved blood circulation and breathing reduced anxiety and cured rheumatism and joints pain. Men and women bathed apart. Men never stared at women while bathing not because they were puritans or something but because women bathed with clothes on. WHAT? Well you see, exposure was not the flavour of the time and women felt comfortable bathing with clothes on. Anyways, saltwater would find its way and heal whatever needed to be healed. May was full of traditions, customs and many more things. But I'll sign off for the present wishing you a safe and happy monsoon of 2021 Viva