“This is picnic month, no one will come for other programmes.”
I remember an official once declaring this in Arunachal Pradesh. On seeing a bemused, though quizzical expression, he explained that “everyone takes off to go for picnics”, leaving us to wonder how to get work done. This also got me wondering about picnic season in Kolkata. So, here it is – all six weeks of it!
Come Boxing Day on December 26, the season starts in earnest. The morning after the night before, carrying baskets of Christmas leftovers, babes in arms and other ‘babes’ in tow, extended families would make the traditional pilgrimage to the Alipore Zoo. Badminton racquets, shawls, bags and satrangis would then be chucked in gay abandon on the grass along with assorted “uncles” to guard them, while the entourage would go to “check out their relatives” – a favourite, time-worn joke about visiting the primate enclosure. There’s a positive nip in the air, matched by the nips in the hip pockets of the uncles! “Sprite” is generously poured out and chanachur packets opened for the relaxing day ahead. Occasionally, too much Sprite can make sprightly young men a little belligerent, leading to an alternative version of “boxing” day. But it’s all over by the time lunch is served and everyone is happy. A short nap with loud snoring later, the picnic is over and everyone packs up and leaves after checking the cages and counting the children!
If you don’t mind a crowd for company, the sprawling gardens and collection of wildlife makes the Alipore Zoo an ideal spot for a winter’s day out TT Archives
Dates for everyone
Since picnic season is limited, there is a mad rush for “dates” – not the ones you pick up from Arabia, nor the luscious ones you pick up at the New Year’s Dance. These are suitable dates for picnics to be held by various organisations, clubs, associations, parishes, residential complexes and corporations. We are spoilt for choice.
January is full of appropriate dates – there are two holidays on January 23 and 26, and a bunch of weekends from which to choose. But choices are driven by which competing picnics are being held on the same day. Some organisations declare their dates well in advance with a ‘Save the Date’ message, ensuring a modicum of attendees. Others provide attractive extras – picturesque new venues, boating facilities, a large playground, parking space, air-conditioned halls and cottages (yes, for a picnic!) and even pet-friendly environments. These extras are the icing on the cake. The predominant deciding factors include travelling distance to the picnic spot, transport and the food!
Gourmets and gourmands
My age will stick out like a sore thumb as I reminisce about picnic food. Back in the day, our Goan community used to have picnics in places like the Botanical Gardens, Shibpur. The entire crowd would descend on the spot well in advance of the “action”. The previous evening, the Goan mums would sit around the TT table at the club and manufacture sandwiches in conveyor belt style – one spread the butter, another added greens, cucumber or tomato slices, another would slip in a salami slice (usually from Lindsay Cold Stores) and the ‘packer’ would put them into foil for the morning breakfast. The children – Goans had large families – would be in the next room playing carrom or just chatting.
No picnic is complete without the makeshift cricket match or games like tug-o-war Sourced by the author
At the Botanics, as it was called, the dads would light wood fires and place large dekchis of water for the morning tea. After breakfast, the mums would set up the kitchen. Chopping boards and knives crawled out of various bags, vegetables and meat would be diced into edible bits, ready for the cooking. The dads would then get the boiling water started for the inevitable pulao, while a quiet kid or two would assist with shelling the peas. Dads would then resort to topping up amber fluids with water and a splash of ice from a flask. The aroma of simmering vindaloo would tease the senses – though satisfaction was a patient wait away.
Meanwhile the rest – kids and gangly teens, sporty types of all ages – would organise team games with much fun and laughter, with a few going off to “explore” the gardens, nooks and crannies. The highlight was the tug-o-war competition. Simplicity made even simpler.
Restaurant-type service has replaced many a picnic basket today Sourced by the author
In many organisations today, picnic advertisements carry the name of the caterer to entice the selective. Details of menus include what delectable snacks will be served in place of the ubiquitous chanachur of yesteryear. Caterers are decked out in full battle regalia, replete with topis or pagris. Service with trays and smiles ensure that picnickers are imbued with the come-back brand for subsequent years. And mums and mads can laze around enjoying the picnic. This restaurant type of service has now become the hallmark of picnics.
There and back
The good, old, rickety school buses of yore have given way to more sophisticated AC buses. The trip by bus used to be special – everyone wanted to get into the bus where singing, jokes and slightly ribald repartee was most likely! The popular favourites included Coming Round the Mountain, My Bonnie, You Are My Sunshine, Beautiful Sunday, Bus Mein Chananana Hoi Re, Surangali – some of dubious origin from different parts of the country. Later, after all the romantic liaisons taking place at the picnic, there would be a reshuffling of the younger set on the way back much to the displeasure of the ‘senior citizens’ in pursuit of a short nap. Many picnickers travel by their own cars these days – this gives them the flexibility to arrive after breakfast and leave after lunch.
Sound of music
Line dancing adds some masala to the music at picnics Sourced by the author
There have been incidents of open fighting to grab a seat at musical chairs, cheating in various team games, and at least one occasion where the tug-o-war rope broke, awarding equal points to both teams! No picnic is complete without the makeshift cricket match where the batting team gets an innings to exercise elbow bending on the sidelines. And all this to the sound of music belting out over the local ‘JBL’ (Joy Baba Lokenath, I am told) speakers hired from the nearby village. The presence of a music system and a earphone connector prompts picnickers to supply a stream of favourites off their phones to keep spirits up.
At picnics hosted by clubs like the Dalhousie Institute, there is karaoke singing and line dancing to add some masala to the music. The equipment comes into great use during the sleepy hours between late lunch and early tea – the official time for “Housie”, Bingo or Tombola. Quip-slinging “callers” amp up the amusement, and amidst hopeful calls of “Jaldi Five”, “Line” or “House”, the uproar of cheerful letdowns echoes. Tea is a hurried affair so that “we can grab good seats in the bus”.
And then the picnic is over – till next year. Or move to Arunachal where I hear picnic season continues till March!
The author is a Goan living in Kolkata and a learning and development consultant who plays music, writes blogs and teaches whenever he can.