Things you must know about Alphonso, the King of Mangoes

The best thing about summer is definitely mangoes. Despite the sweltering heat, people in India welcome summers heartily to enjoy the delicious mangoes. It’s only in the summer season when mangoes are found at every nook and corner of the country. I have fond memories of plucking mangoes from the mango tree in my ancestral house and gorging on them in the afternoon. The delicious summer fruit brings a smile on our lips and a wave of nostalgia in our mind.

Mango is known as the king of fruits as it is loved by almost everyone. It is also very rich in nutrients. There are plenty of health benefits of mangoes as the fruit is a great source of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. There are various types of mangoes that are available during summer, but the King of Mangoes is undoubtedly Alphonso. 

Alphonso, the King of Mangoes

The season of Alphonso is from the end of March to May. It is the most expensive variety of mangoes available in India. It is considered as a luxury food item because of its rich flavor, tantalizing appearance and high price. There is a royal feel with the King of Mangoes that you cannot ignore. The price of 12 pieces of Alphonso mango ranges generally between Rs1000 and Rs 4000. The price depends on the grade, texture and size of the mangoes.

Featured in 1000 things to eat before you die

The Alphonso mango becomes a national obsession during its short season. They are available only in India and are exported to other corners of the world. Alphonso mango has appeared in many lists such as “1000 things to eat before you die”. If you have ever tasted the King of Mangoes, you will understand why it is celebrated all over the world. The Alphonso mangoes are very popular in the UK. 

The rich and unique flavor of Alphonso mangoes

Alphonso has a unique flavor that is a cross between apricot, peach, melon and nectarine with hints of citrus and honey. The unparalleled flavor of the Alphonso mangoes makes them the King of Mangoes. The sunshine-yellow skin of Alphonso looks very tempting. It has a buttery and smooth saffron colored flesh that is extremely inviting. Alphonso mangoes have a beautiful, sweet aroma with extraordinary flavor.

Chefs find Alphonso a great food item to experiment with. You can find Alphonso on the cocktail and dessert menus of popular bars and restaurants in the world. Alphonso is widely used for making yogurts, ice creams, pudding and cakes. You can also prepare many desserts and drinks at your home in summer with Alphonso mangoes. Sweet Mango Chutney, Mango Kesar Milkshake and Alphonso’s French connection can be easily prepared at home. 

The story behind the name of Alphonso mangoes

Alphonso has been named after Afonso de Albuquerque, a military expert and nobleman who helped in establishing the Portuguese colony in our country. The Portuguese introduced the process of grafting on mango trees that can produce great varieties like Alphonso. 

Best variety of Alphonso mangoes

Alphonso mangoes are cultivated widely in the state of Maharashtra. There are many varieties of Alphonso, but the best variety is grown on the farms of Ratnagiri. They are hand-harvested and widely exported worldwide. Ameya Vartak had established Aamrai (meaning mango orchard) at Ratnagiri that is delighting mango lovers all over the world since 2011. It is an acclaimed brand for the best quality Alphonso mangoes in the country. You can enjoy the season’s first Alphonso directly from the farms of Ratnagiri. Give yourself a beautiful experience this summer by relishing the King of Mangoes. 

Loved by the British

The British love Alphonso mangoes. In 1953, Alphonso mangoes were exported to London for the first time from the legendary Crawford Market of Mumbai. Since then, the love affair between the British and the Alphonso mangoes has only grown. There are many courier companies that provide the facility of gifting Alphonso mangoes to friends and relatives all over the world. 

Great taste and wonderful health benefits

Alphonso is the perfect combination of great taste and perfect nutrition. As it is rich in iron, it is great for pregnant women. It is also loaded with antioxidants and is rich in Vitamin A, E and Selenium. Its extraordinary taste will make you enjoy the summer season like never before. 

The mango season is a national obsession in our country, just like cricket and Bollywood. The top restaurants in the cities start mango festivals to attract customers. The street vendors sell fresh mango juice. People savor the Alphonso mangoes in various ways. So, what are you waiting for? Salebhai.com is providing great offers on Alphonso mangoes. If you are yet to savor the King of Mangoes, treat yourself this summer to the best quality Alphonso Mangoes. You will have a wonderful experience with your family that you can’t forget. 

Note:  The images have been sourced from the website of salebhai.com

When love becomes a journey!

I gaze at the autumn sky with a newly fallen maple leaf in my hand. The graceful cumulus clouds, oblivious to my inner tempest, look at me and sigh. Then, they continue their play as I try to unknot the memories of one particular autumn afternoon. The more I unknot the memories, the more they get tangled and along with them, I get tangled too - a chaotic mess. I start writing on the yellow notebook to unburden my heart. My spilled thoughts are all over the yellow pages. Every day, I write a new story as I try to unknot the memories. I add a new detail or change a dialogue as I read between the silences of a` moment long gone by. Finally, I have a thousand stories of a handful of memories. A thousand ways of feeling you by my side.  

I sail in your love

Every new moon to full moon

My timeless journey.

Linking with Poetry Pantry #346

Vodafone felicitates Voice of Kolkata winners on International Women's Week

Me with the goodie bag after the event

On this International Women's week, Vodafone brought an interesting contest known as the Voice of Kolkata. Women from every walk of life were told to send their voice message in 91.9 Friends Fm official WhatsApp number about what they feel about today's women and the state of women in the country. 

I couldn't stop myself from voicing my thoughts and feelings about today's women on Women's Day. This subject is so close to me as I support women empowerment and equality. I am a feminist. 

What I said in my voice message is exactly similar to my blog post that I wrote on Women's Day: Dear beautiful women, let your soul shine bright! If you haven't read it, you can check it out. I recorded the voice message in the morning of Women's Day and then in the afternoon, I thought to share it with the readers of my blog. 

On the afternoon of 13th March, I got a call from 91.9 Friends Fm informing me that I am one of the winners of Voice of Kolkata. They told me to reach the next day for an event at Vodafone Angel Store by 4 pm. 

Vodafone Angel Store is a very unique store because it is completely managed and run by women. I was absolutely delighted on reaching the Vodafone Angel Store. As I reached at 3.30 pm, they told me to wait for some time. 

I met some of the fellow winners of Voice of Kolkata and we hit it off right away. Rituparna and Jayanti were bundles of positive energy. I did not feel that I met them just a few minutes back. We talked like old pals and clicked selfies throughout the event. The reason we bonded so well was perhaps because we were there that day to celebrate women power in all its glory.

Jayanti, Rituparna and I (From L-R)

All the winners reached by 4 pm. I could spot radio jockey Arko who was there to host the event. There was a delicious chocolate cake kept for all the winners. We were invited by the Vodafone staff to cut it together and celebrate women power. 

Just before cutting the cake!

It was wonderful cutting the cake with all the independent and strong women present there. When you are in the company of like-minded people, you can't help but enjoy every single second. You can see the cake-cutting moments and our short interview in this video. 

After the cake-cutting and interview session, we bonded with each other while having our small cake party. Then the zonal head of Vodafone gave us our goodies and thanked us for voicing our strong opinion and thoughts. 

RJ Arko told four of the winners, including me, to give another short interview on 91.9 Friends Fm. We went live on air and absolutely cherished the experience. 

With the coolest RJ

Finally, the lovely evening ended with all the winners posing with RJ Arko for a group picture. 

RJ Arko with all the winners of Voice of Kolkata

I had a great evening. It was a wonderful post women's day celebration. The goodies made me smile. I got a cool backpack that will accompany me on my next vacation, a cute red umbrella, Vodafone ZooZoo mug and couple Inox tickets. 

In the midst of happiness, I wondered what a beautiful world we will have if only women empower and support each other, shedding their judgmental cloaks. 

"I always believed that one woman's success can only help another woman's success"~ Gloria Vanderbilt

Dear beautiful women, let your soul shine bright!

Most of my stories and poems are inspired by the women that I see regularly around me. Today’s women know their mind and are aware of their rights. They know the world is as much theirs as it is of men. They are aware of their talent, intelligence, and potential. At the same time, they are proud of having a loving heart and a compassionate soul.

I get inspired when I see a woman raising her voice against any injustice taking place with her or around her. I feel proud when I see women empowering each other. To all the wonderful women achievers, whether women filmmakers, writers, artists, doctors or lawyers, I salute you for bringing your authentic self to this world.

And to all the unsung women who are fighting their battles to fulfill their dreams, I salute you for your courage and resilience.

I feel blessed to be a woman because a woman is a nurturer, lover and fighter rolled into one. The best thing is that today, we have got the world listening to what we are saying. Therefore, we should take control of our lives and do something beautiful that we can be proud of. 

Dear beautiful women,

Let's make a promise this Women's Day to honor our individuality and identity. 
Let's not give a single soul the power to dim our light and remove that smile from our face. Let's take pride in our little quirks, loud giggles, overwhelming emotions and the sweet imperfections. Because they make us who we are. 

Let's uplift women who are less privileged than us and get inspired by the ones who live life on their own terms. 

Let kindness be our lyrics and love be our music as we, women, have the capability to love unconditionally. Let's promise to never compromise on our individuality and beliefs because the world needs our light, our authentic self.

Let your soul shine brighter than ever. Happy Women's Day!

Love, 

A woman who looks up to you

That Particular Song

I find music very much related to nostalgia. I have experienced it several times. You are having a regular day, busy with your work. Suddenly, a song plays on the radio and that takes you back to a different time, in a different place in the blinking of eyes. For the next 5 minutes, you are not in this world. And when the song ends, you realize the tremendous emotional impact it just had on you. 

"Nostalgia is a seductive liar."~ George Ball

Linking this poem with Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Nostalgia

Celebration of literature at the Kolkata Literary Meet

That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longing, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.”~F.Scott.Fitzgerald

Being a bibliophile and an ardent literature lover, I wait for the #TataSteelKalam Kolkata Literary Meet every year to listen to my favorite authors, discover new books and attend interesting sessions. This year, the Kolkata Literary Meet was a 5 day literary festival from 25^th January to 29^th January at the Victoria Memorial Hall. The festival was inaugurated by acclaimed novelist, Anita Desai.

The literary sessions were hosted at the two venues of Victoria Memorial Hall – Son-et-Lumiere and Western Quadrangle. Some of the sessions of Tata Steel Kalam also took place at the Calcutta Club. Over 130 celebrated authors, filmmakers and thinkers from various countries assembled at the literary festival to share their thoughts and views.

I went to the Kolkata Literary Meet three days and attended some enriching sessions. On January 26th, I was fortunate to attend one of my favorite authors, Ruskin Bond’s session “Thrills and Spills” where Ruskin Bond discussed why hills are the perfect setting for murders and mystery. It was a great experience when Ruskin Bond read one of the stories from his latest book “Death under the deodars”. 

It was an amazing session, especially when the audience was given the chance to ask him questions. I asked him about one of his short stories, “The Night train at Deoli” and was overjoyed when he answered me. After his session, the audience was told that Ruskin Bond would be signing books at the author’s lounge. Finally, I got the opportunity to have a signed copy and meet my favorite author personally.

On January 27th, I attended the session “Acts of Faith” where Javed Akhtar, Tabish Khair, Mudar Patherya and Shazia Omar discussed about the challenges of Islamophobia, stereotypes and radicalization. It was a very enriching session and I especially loved hearing Javed Akhtar whose views were refined and powerful. 

Then, I attended the next session “Pink and the power of No” where  Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, Andrea Tariang and Ritesh Shah spoke about the importance of the movie “Pink”. They were in conversation with author, Kunal Basu. It was a very engaging session where the audience asked plenty of questions to the director about the movie and the change it brought in the mindset of people.

I also went to the festival on the final day, 29^th January. I attended the Children’s Literary Meet Special with Indian sports’ golden boy, Abhinav Bindra and Joybeer Dutta Gupta. The Olympic gold medalist in shooting talked about his journey, his failures and success. It was very motivating when he spoke about the importance of dreams in the life of every person. He said that hard work and persistence are the only way to success. When someone from the audience asked him about the role of his parents, he said that his parents supported and encouraged him whenever he had failures and felt like giving up.

I enjoyed the session “Make up your mind” where Nandana Sen and Nabaneeta Dev Sen read poetry from their latest book “Make up your mind”. The award winning poet, Nabaneeta Dev Sen spoke about Nandana’s translations of her poetry. It was a sheer treat to see the mother and daughter bond on poetry. Overall, I had a great time at the #TataSteelKalam Kolkata Literary Festival. At the end of the festival, my literary appetite is well satiated with new books to read.

It is wonderful to see that Tata recognizes the role of literature and is contributing so much to secure the literature culture in Kolkata. The Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet brings the literary stalwarts from all corners of the world. It gives people a forum to speak their mind and interact with the authors. It encourages the lovers of literature to explore the world of ideas and words without any hesitation. The people of Kolkata look forward to the Kolkata Literary Meet every winter as it gives them the chance to rediscover or rather “readiscover” books.

The Dried Rose

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The dried, dark rose

Concealed within the pages of my diary

Whispers countless words

On a full moon night

When the heart is soaked in love

And chained by memories. 

Those are the words 

That were left unsaid

Like an unsolved puzzle,

An incomplete play,

Or a beautiful portrait

Left half-colored midway.

You perhaps wanted me to solve it,

But I was no master at the craft

I was too naive for mind games.

Dawn arrives with a new hope

The neglected, dried rose

Sigh at an incomplete story;

I quietly close the diary

Unchain my heart from the memories

And get back to reality.

-Purba Chakraborty

(12.02.2017)

Linking this poem with Prompt Nights – Love’s a night-song sweet sung by the tender strokes of wind – Valentine’s Day Special and Poetry Pantry #340

Have you checked out the new cover of my poetry book? The book is absolutely free to download on your Kindle App and Device till the 14th Feb. A small Valentine's Day gift from my side. Grab your copy from Amazon now!

One crazy, adventurous Trip with your BFFs

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Best friends. Adventures. Travelling. Laughter. Heart to heart conversations. 
And you get memories of a lifetime.

Out of the several unticked things in my never-ending bucket list, a crazy, adventurous trip with my best friend before getting married tops the list. My best friend, Priyam and I have been discussing it for the last two years, but unfortunately, it didn't happen yet. Work deadlines, family and other issues keep popping whenever we make a plan. And it gets postponed. 

Last weekend, I came across the popular web series called "The Trip" in YouTube. It is a super fun, coming of age story of four girls who go on a road trip from Delhi to Thailand. As one of the girls in their group, Ananya is about to tie the knot, the girls plan a crazy bachelorette road trip. Ever since I watched Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, I have always yearned to see something like "The Trip" in which a group of girl best friends embark on a journey.

It is a fun, adventurous and emotional roller coaster ride. I watched the eight episodes back to back uploaded so far in the last weekend and have become addicted to this web series. I can't wait for Episode 9 which will be uploaded on Thursday. 

The best thing was that I found both me and my close friends in these four girls- Shonali, the free-spirited musician (played by Lisa Haydon), Nazia, the firecracker, absolutely bindaas and aspiring journalist (played by Mallika Dua), Ananya, the sweet and adorable bride-to-be (played by Shweta Tripathi) and Sanjana, the introvert yogi with a rule-book (played by Sapna Pabbi). The four characters are extremely relatable. Check out the trailer. I am sure every girl will love it. 



I am enjoying the web series so much that I compelled my closest friends, Priyam and Triyas to watch it. The actual idea is to influence them so that they agree to go on a trip this year, come what may. Because this phase of our life won't come back once we are married.

Therefore, an adventurous trip with my bestie or BFFs means a lot to me. It is the most important thing on my bucket list and I wish to tick it off, finally this year. 

I have traveled with my friends in college excursion. I have traveled solo. I have traveled with family. But I am sure nothing can be better than traveling with your BFFs and making countless memories that you can cherish throughout your life. 

Have you ever gone for an adventurous trip with your BFFs? How was the experience? I would love to know. 

Guest author in The Love for Colors, releasing on Valentine's

Since 2014, there is a similar pattern in my life during Valentine's day. Are you wondering what? Well, it is a book release, which I enjoy the most being an author. Whether an anthology or my solo book, Valentine's Day is the time of a new release. Last year, my collection of poems, The Heart Listens to No One was released on Valentine's Day and this year, the anthology Shades of Life 2: The Love for Colors is releasing. 

I was a part of Shades of Life that released last year, Holi. My short story Silent Offering is a part of the book. One day, when Sarav, the editor of the book invited me to be the guest author of The Love for colors, I was exhilarated. I asked him on which color I should write and he told me to write a poem blending the theme of colors and love. 

I associated each color of the rainbow with a girl's memories of a true love affair that is beyond physical separation. That is how my poem Epoch of our love was born which is now a part of Shades of Life 2 ~ the love for colors.  

I feel proud to be a part of this book because it is a very unique anthology. The authors have chosen a particular color and penned a story/poem that symbolizes the color. When the contest for this book was going on, the Shades of life Team uploaded a color chart so that the authors can work on their poem/story keeping in mind what the particular color symbolizes. 

I started reading the book yesterday and I am really enjoying the different flavors of the colors. I already read the poems and stories under the section Black and Grey. I am sure you will also enjoy exploring the various colors in the form of intriguing stories and soulful poems. 

Right now with the book and certificate in my hand, I feel extremely happy to be the guest author of this beautiful book which will release around Feb 14 this year. I will await your feedback on the book and review on my poem. Order your copy from the link below or gift it to your Valentine, if he/she loves reading.

Epilation: 10 moments you won’t have to miss if you’re smooth

It is extremely frustrating when you have to cancel your plans just because you are not at your smoothest. What else do you do when you suddenly get an invite from your friends for a fun party or your crush asks you out for a date? Girl, you are not alone. All of us hate those-in-between days when we can’t wear that pretty dress or have to say no to that exciting party just because we are not at our smoothest. However, there is a solution called Braun Epilators that will not let you miss out anything.

Why Epilation?

Epilation is way better than waxing because it provides long lasting smoothness. Since epilation is the process of removal of hair from the roots, it is more efficient than waxing. Moreover, it is gentle and ideal for sensitive skin. Braun Epilators can be used by all women, irrespective of their skin tone, hair color and tan.  So, let’s take a look at the 10 moments that you won’t have to miss because of Braun Epilators:

      1.       Pool Parties

New bikini? Check. New shades? Check. Smooth skin? Check. Now we’re ready to dive right in.

2.      Wearing that new dress

We are talking about the dress that you’ve always wanted to wear, but have always hesitated because you were not super smooth. Braun Epilators can remove hairs as small as a grain of sand. Therefore, no worries now! Get that new dress on and cause a sensation.

3. Uninhibited dancing

When you have smooth skin, you don’t have to hesitate when your favorite music plays. You can dance without any inhibitions, throwing your arms in the air. 

4. Going to the park

On hot summer days, you can wear your favorite shorts and go to the park when you have great, smooth skin. 

5.     Roller coaster pictures

If you love roller coaster rides, there is nothing more exhilarating than flinging your arms in the air with gay abandon and shouting “wheeeeeeeee” from the top of the roller-coaster. You will get great roller coaster pictures when you have super smooth arms and pits.

6.   Leg Day at the gym

It is the perfect opportunity to flaunt your smooth legs to your crush in the gym. Braun Epilators catch hairs 4X shorter than waxing, so you’ll never get caught out!

7.   Rocking your favorite short sleeved tee

If you have silky smooth skin, you can rock your favorite short-sleeved tee on a casual day out with your friends. 

8.   Legfies

Are you sitting under the sun on a beautiful beach with smooth legs? Then take a legfie and post on Instagram. 

9.  Last minute invitation to the beach

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. Your crush has finally asked you to the beach. But hold on, how can you rock your cutoffs without smooth skin?

10. Last minute ticket to a gig

Your favorite band is in town and you have finally managed to get the tickets. Now, how to look stunning? Wear your favorite mini skirt or short dress! And rock the look with super smooth legs. 

You can absolutely trust Braun Epilators for immediate results. For more information on the Braun Beauty portfolio, please visit http://amzn.to/2hhVJIJ

About Braun

Braun, a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble founded in Germany in 1921, develops and manufactures a wide variety of small domestic appliances that marry technical innovation, reliable quality and distinctive design. These range from electric shavers and beauty products to hair care appliances. Braun products enjoy worldwide distribution.