For mango lovers, the arrival of monsoon marks the final call to indulge in the season’s last mangoes. So, when a mango party was hosted in the Lodhi Garden, even the rains couldn’t stop aam enthusiasts from showing up.As the greens glistened around the Shish Gumbad, the aroma of over 50kg of ripe mangoes mingled in the air. Under the heritage mango tree, host Ravinder Singh treated the attendees to a sensory performance titled Memory Orchard. “You will not just see a mango, you will see my childhood,” he said while talking about how mangoes reminded him of his naani and how she taught him to savour dasheri aam and more.
Folk songs like Ambwa Ki Chhaiyan Mein played in the backdrop, enhancing the mood of indulging in all things mango
Scent meets sentimentThrough the five senses – smell, sight, touch, sound, and taste – the host took the attendees on a journey of mango memories. They wrote childhood anecdotes and their favourite mango stories on postcards and then smeared them with mango or green mango-scented attars.
Attendees smeared themselves with mango or green mango-scented attars
The scent of the mangoes filled the air
Mango mania meets monsoon at Lodhi Garden
The final stage of the immersive journey was sharing the joy of eating, while songs like Ambwa Ki Chhaiyan Mein played in the backdrop. From Rataul and Husnara to unique varieties like gulab jamun and banana, the mango party was a joyful plunge into childhood.
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“Garmi se tilmilaya hua sheher ho aur usmein thodi si barsaat ho jaye, aur aam apne aap apke paas ajaye… gazab hai maano! Mango is a fruit of integration – of families, friends and regions,” said veteran theatre actor-director MK Raina, while gorging on a slice of langda aam.
Mango mania gripped aam lovers
“We hardly use the public spaces in the city to bring people together. Through the mango and my memories with mangoes, I want to bring people together,” said Ravinder, who hosted the fourth edition of the mango party at Lodhi Garden
The mango party was a joyful plunge into childhood
“This mango party was like recreating a summer moment from my childhood when our family used to sit together, on the floor, to eat mangoes. Haath, kapre sab gande ho jaate thay”
Disha, who attended the mango party
Ravinder Singh hosted the fourth edition of his annual mango party at Lodhi Garden
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