Pickles at the Fair: A Unique Taste of Happiness.

Hello dear friends,
I hope you all are doing well and spending a beautiful life with your loved ones. I wish you all happiness and peace.

Pickles! Just hearing the name makes your mouth water. Since childhood, pickles have been an important part of our food culture. Especially for women, pickles hold a special charm. Made with salt, chili, mustard oil, and a mix of spices, this food is not just about taste—it’s also tied to emotions.

Recently, I had an amazing experience at a fair. In one corner, I noticed a large stall full of pickles. As I got closer, a strong, tangy smell filled the air. The entire stall was decorated with different kinds of pickles. Big plastic containers were lined up, each filled with colorful pickles. The vibrant colors, tempting aroma, and the thought of that sour-sweet taste made my mouth water instantly.

There were about thirty types of pickles in that stall. I had never seen so many varieties in one place before. Each pickle had a small signboard with its name, like:

Peanut Pickle – A perfect mix of peanuts with a tangy, sweet, and spicy flavor.

Boroi Pickle – Made from dried jujube, a wonderful mix of sourness and heat.

Ginger Bombay Pickle – A unique flavor of ginger blended with special spices for a tangy-sweet taste.

Bitter Gourd Pickle – A different choice; the bitterness of bitter gourd mixed with spicy sweetness is surprisingly tasty.

Mango Pickle – Everyone’s favorite; the sharp taste of raw mango can make your mouth water.

Ginger-Garlic Pickle – Perfect for those who love something unique and bold.

Each pickle had its own color. The peanut pickle was a shiny brown, while the boroi pickle had a deep reddish-black look that could make anyone crave it. The ginger and bitter gourd pickles had the strong mustard oil aroma that made me want to taste them right away.

That day, I bought olive pickle. Its mix of sourness and spice was so addictive that once you start eating, you can’t stop. I also brought home wood apple pickle for my family. Sharing these flavors at home added extra joy to the day.

Pickles are not just about taste—they’re part of our culture. In villages, making raw mango pickles and drying them in the sun, or filling shelves with jars of boroi pickles—these are priceless memories of rural life. Even in urban life today, this tradition is still alive. Seeing so many varieties of pickles at the fair reminded me that this food still holds a special place in people’s hearts.

In the end, pickles are not just food—they’re a source of happiness. A little pickle with rice, or with khichuri, or even just by itself, can make anyone satisfied. The variety I saw at the fair made me realize once again—pickles will always remain one of the most loved foods in Bengali hearts.