I grew up in Kolkata where winters meant cool mornings,cold nights but daytime required just a plain cardigan at most.
But come winter we looked forward to the lep/blanket which was a bright red colour ,hand-made stuffed with cotton and was taken out to be aired, well before the nights we needed them.
The weight of those comforters were way more than the modern ones and the cotton in them kept us warm as toast.
Then came those Darjeeling oranges .Sweet tangy and just the right amount of skin on them.Absolutely binge worthy.Lake market in South Kolkata had some of the best fruits on offer and my mother ensured we never fell short of fruits.
Winters also meant the long Christmas holidays which a Convent school usually has.But since I studied in West Bengal board,the final exam of the year happened in December just before Christmas holidays. That meant, that particular school holidays were really happy holidays.
My mother was working at a Central Government office with her work place at Park Street .Come winter holidays, Park street , New Market and Kolkata herself was decked up in all holiday fineries.Christmas decorations and lights made the entire place look like a giant party zone.
My sister was working there from 2018 to 2023 .While coming back from work in December, she shared pictures and videos of all those fairy lights.That made nostalgia nostalgic!
While there was a school picnic at Victoria grounds or Nicco park where we shared ,fried rice,chilli chicken,dosa, ice cream and cold drink without thoughts of calories,seed oils or food additives family picnics always had home cooked food.My mother and aunts remembered to cook and pack luchi, aloor dom and sandesh for breakfast ,followed by plain rice ,dal,aloo bhaja ,mutton kasha,mishti for lunch even if we visited the Alipur Zoo .As kids it was a no worry zone about what to eat.We ate everything .
My friend Rukmini’s mom Debjani aunty,took us out for Christmas Eve dinner and a stroll down Park Street.Those were good times.
As a grown up now winters are full of picnics in mango orchards at Malda,New Year’s Eve dance party at our Kolkata apartment complex,winter vacation with family and friends, winter mornings in the village home,winter garden full of Petunia, Marigold,Rose.
I still love curling under a blanket with a good book .
New memories in old places and new .That’s what seasons of life is about.
What’s your favorite winter memory?Let me know in the comments below.
