Remember the story BIHANGA BIPLABA (The Mutiny of Birds) from our School Days SAHITYA (Odia literature) textbook, taught in Class VI ? It's a very funny story with powerful connotations.
A bunch of birds protested against the ordeals they had to go through, to which the wise Bear King gave a patient hearing. He was about to give his verdict in their favor, when the clever monkey intervened to manipulate his decision by bribing the King with a ripened Jackfruit, a delicacy for the animal. I still remember a sentence from that story - RE KAAU RAAU RAAU HUANA (Hey crow, don't caw with you coarse voice).
Jackfruit is synonymous with Summer in Odisha. Brings back memories from home, where come late Spring - early summer, it's time to savor the raw variety of this fibrous fruit in the form of fries, curry or DALMA (an Odia dish of boiled lentils and vegetables).
In late summer the ripened Jackfruits form an essential part of the Odia festive occasions of Savitri and Raja. In my village, we owned an orchard filled with Jackfruit trees, the most fruitfulls of them were given nicknames, based on the color, texture and taste. On of them, leaning right into river BHARGAVI was called PODA RANGI PANASA (Smouldering Red Jackfruit) for its Bright Red color and sweet, succulent pulp.
Bhubaneswar then was a sleepy township of salaried people. Jackfruit trees were a common sight inside the compounds of government quarters, closely followed by SAJANA CHHUIN (
Drumsticks) and Papaya trees. During the summer months one can see huge cylindrical jackfruits protruding from the trunks, like the sagging fats of an enormous Sumo wrestler.
When they start to ripen, this fruit emits a strong smell which attracts bats and jackals, the name jackfruit probably comes from the later. It brings a deja vu feeling in me of my childhood summer trips to my village when passing through the TOTA (orchard) one can smell the ripe jackfruit from a distance. My villagers back then used to cherish the juice extracted from ripe jackfruits. Not sure if it's the same these days.
A bunch of birds protested against the ordeals they had to go through, to which the wise Bear King gave a patient hearing. He was about to give his verdict in their favor, when the clever monkey intervened to manipulate his decision by bribing the King with a ripened Jackfruit, a delicacy for the animal. I still remember a sentence from that story - RE KAAU RAAU RAAU HUANA (Hey crow, don't caw with you coarse voice).
Jackfruit is synonymous with Summer in Odisha. Brings back memories from home, where come late Spring - early summer, it's time to savor the raw variety of this fibrous fruit in the form of fries, curry or DALMA (an Odia dish of boiled lentils and vegetables).
In late summer the ripened Jackfruits form an essential part of the Odia festive occasions of Savitri and Raja. In my village, we owned an orchard filled with Jackfruit trees, the most fruitfulls of them were given nicknames, based on the color, texture and taste. On of them, leaning right into river BHARGAVI was called PODA RANGI PANASA (Smouldering Red Jackfruit) for its Bright Red color and sweet, succulent pulp.
Bhubaneswar then was a sleepy township of salaried people. Jackfruit trees were a common sight inside the compounds of government quarters, closely followed by SAJANA CHHUIN (
Drumsticks) and Papaya trees. During the summer months one can see huge cylindrical jackfruits protruding from the trunks, like the sagging fats of an enormous Sumo wrestler.
When they start to ripen, this fruit emits a strong smell which attracts bats and jackals, the name jackfruit probably comes from the later. It brings a deja vu feeling in me of my childhood summer trips to my village when passing through the TOTA (orchard) one can smell the ripe jackfruit from a distance. My villagers back then used to cherish the juice extracted from ripe jackfruits. Not sure if it's the same these days.
Maharaj, Khali agaku dekhi bichara na Kari pachha ku dekhi bichara karantu...
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