Relevance of mahua plant in the life of rural people of Central India..

Mahua (Madhuca indica) is  a keystone species of Central India.....Massive with  multiple utility....a haven for birds...

When leather-colored bud clusters appear in spring and the fragrant flowers bloom in summer...its a busy time for everybody, those who depend on it.....

People in rural areas burn down the leafy carpet at the ground, so as to more effectively collect the juicy-grape-like flowers.......at night one can see the distant hills burning.....I am not sure of its environmental impact though....

Some flowers are fermented to make beverages......elephants raiding the cottages of people to aid this aromatic drink is not unknown...

Other flowers are dried on mats in full sun to make raisins...these fried flowers are sold as a cow feed..my mother used to buy bagful of them to feed our cattle...

Our school campus had one giant tree......we used to pick the flowers...the dried mass were often sold to fund the earthen water pitchers for the summer days......it was fun...

The fruits which looked like canistels are consumed as vegetables.........I have tried a few times....though I did not like...some off-flavor of the characteristic Sapotaceae family....must be the tannin...

The seed oil was used as an skin emollient.....must better than the current slew of dangerous chemicals...

As a respect to its contribution, this plants is considered holy and its woods are used in weddings and other auspicious occasions...

And it often harbors the orchid vanda on its barks...

When I saw a Amazonian tree Ombu in California botanical garden.......it reminded me of our own mahua tree.........

Save them......its utter foolishness to topple down such nourishing plants for some fire woods or timbers.. 

Calf eating chapati from my mother's hand...

Cattle and calves are integral parts of our community in India...yeah, we belong to the farming-landlord community........ 

So, we always have at least one calf in our barn....

When there are many, they play among themselves...........when alone, and cow mother goes for grazing.....the little calf comes to our house....to get some attention, food and to stay away from the tormenting stray dogs...

This little one follows my mother......one of such moments.....my mother is feeding the calf with chapati..

Here are some more shots of the same guy..

Common people in India.....

During my visit to India and during the stay with my elder sister in Rourkela, i accompanied her to the open air market....for vegetables....with camera in tow.......

As she browsed through the vegetables, I started taking pictures of people and things around......the gol-gappa vendor, the flamboyant flower, scavenging crows..........and others..

As I turned my lens to these women seller, they blushed......I captured some smiling faces...

So many problems in current India...struggle for almost everything...yet, the laughter has not been forgotten..

India visit in summer 2014.....

We visited India in summer 2014......
These shots are clicked during that time...with family....
with mother and little nephew....in front a local Shiva temple..

With spouse, in the same temple..

In another temple...in another place...

In the bank of river Ib...with mother and cousin brother...

On the terrace of in law's place...

Feral cat in our yard...

One of the feral cats in our yard...perhaps I woke up this guy from siesta on the roof...

We never feed him....its too feral to come to the house or seek food...it hunts for garden lizards and other small creatures for food...

Does not the feline look healthy? Every animal should be like that...full of energy and health..

Another nap on the barn wall......

With the legs and the tal dangling loosely...

Tender coconut water.........

Tender coconut water is the most healthy and delicious summer drink in India. It is easily found on most urban streets of India. I can't resist this nutritious, natural drink on a sultry afternoon. I am particularly fond of watching the vendor lop off the husk with his machete with superb dexterity. After I am done sipping the sweet water, I insist on getting the empty shell hacked and  the soft meat scooping off. As I relish the soft, tasty meat using a spoon carved out of the coconut shell, the spent 10 rupees seems a perfect investment.:)......Apart from the quenching of thirst and brutal heat, another precious aspect of enjoying a tender coconut on a dusty, busy street or a shady, desolate place is the "sweet memories made".

These fruits are home produce of my in-law's place...

Flowers of Odisha: part III......

When I was visiting India in rainy season, these flowers were blooming in our garden, yard and neighborhood....these are mostly from my sister's garden in Rourkela and the neighborhood..enjoy the gorgeous blooms.....

Gerbera........

Jasmine.......

Sunflower.........

Trumpet creeper......

Unknown flower..........

Bougainvillea.......

Canna...........

Zinnia........

Hibiscus.........

Mussaenda.........

Pink oleander..........

Butterfly pea.........

Oleander..........

Flamboyant tree....

Mushrooms in our homestead (Inedible).......

Mushrooms pop up in moist conditions...it was monsoons time and in our homestead I got to spot these species...of course, all of them are inedible, also might be toxic..
They were growing from all sorts of places...log, living palm, soil, brick heaps...
I will try to identify them...