After almost a decade this year we had a fabulous mango season. Villages of Mithila in northern Bihar had a very special mango season this year. From the bloom to harvest of mangoes, the villagers kept fairly busy for about four months. Temporary huts found their ways back to the mango orchards after a long break. These huts became most happening spots in the villages. 
Good harvest of mangoes kept people of Mithila busy discussing specialties of various species of this fruit, thus having very little time for politics and attention to other problems of life. From orchards to offices and from homes to temples…life moved surrounding mangoes only.
Villagers of Mithila give you an account how Lord Buddha used to take detour to mango orchards in this region and how Emperor Akbar was fascinated with mangoes of Mithila and got thousands of mango saplings planted called ‘Lakhi Bag’ in Darbhanga.
Mithila produces thousands of varieties of mangoes. Branded mangoes like Langda or Maldah, Chausa and other such varieties are not favorites for locals. People prefer other lesser-known varieties, which is juicy and has got different flavors. Kerwa, Panma, Ujra, Sinuriya, Karpuriya, Chiniya, Mirchaiya…there are innumerous varieties of mangoes in the orchards and there are legends associated with all these varieties. Invariably, there is a variety called Usragga in every orchard in Mithila, fruits of which are not for the consumption of the owners and the wood is also used for cremation purpose only.
Marriages solemnized more than usual this season, because mangoes saved lot of money on feasting guests which costs majority of marriage expenses in this region. It was an ideal season for other ceremonies as well, where feasting was associated with them. Nothing could be dearer than mangoes to the sweet teeth of Maithils. 
Families witnessed long awaited reunion of heir family members, since mangoes attracted them from all over. All of them had one story or other of their childhood to share thread around mangoes.
Barter of eatables and consumables with mangoes also revived, since nothing was more liquid and solid than mangoes this season. Laborers also preferred mangoes in lieu of cash or any other kind for the services rendered.
This bumper mango harvest has healed many wounds of flood and drought that took turns on Mithila for almost a decade. Contented people of Mithila think that bad phase of this region is over and mangoes have brought all the luck for them.
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