PHOTOGRAPHY|TRAVEL| SANDI’S JANUARY PROMPT-HOMETOWN PRIDE.
Experiencing the Awe of Nature
January Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Hometown Pride”
Remembrance of childhood’s most precious moments.
I have some enjoyable vivid memories of spending vacations on my maternal grandparent’s farm. My grandfather owned several acres of agricultural land in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh in Central India.
My grandfather and my uncles were all into farming. My cousins now manage the family farming business. They grow and harvest wheat, cotton, soya, and pulses and also have huge mango, orange, sweet limes, guava, and jackfruit gardens.
While I grew up in Gujarat, my Mom and I visited my grandparents every year during the Christmas holidays.
The best memories are those that we never forget.
The cool breeze, fresh air on the farm, quiet surroundings, and hot cups of tea sitting around a bonfire would make my winter holidays special.
Did I miss something on this list? Yess — Oranges!
I have my best memories of spending time with my cousins roaming around in the orange groves, running around in the open wheat fields and watching the workers milk the cows.
The best was eating oranges plucked directly from the branches of the fruit-laden trees. To pluck and eat the oranges in the orchard is an experience that I will never forget. The freshness of the plucked fruit is exceptional.
After dark, the whole family would gather around the lamps kept on the dining table to chat, sing or play cards. There were huge baskets of fresh oranges and guavas kept in the centre. All of us would enjoy fresh fruits while talking and playing.
Until the early 70s, many villages in rural India had no electricity. Kerosene lamps, lanterns and candles were the primary sources of light in the village homes.
So it would be a candlelight dinner and dessert for us.
“Happy times come and go, but the best childhood memories stay forever.” — Anonymous
Thank you Sandi Parsons for the wonderful January prompt. Thank you Mary Chang Story Writer for this publication.
You may also like to visit some brilliant photographers and story weavers via the Homepage.
Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Dr. Preeti Singh, B.R. Shenoy, pockett dessert, Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Sharing Randomly, Rhonda Carrier.
