7 Things Every 90s Indian Kid Can Relate to for the Summer Holidays

Summer is a time which always brings back wonderful memories of childhood. Carefree times, no school and waking up late. Entire days to just play and go on holidays to scenic locations. Let’s look back at seven things every Indian kid from the 90s can relate to about their summer vacation. 

1.    Nani/Dadi ka Ghar (Grandmother’s House)

Back in the days when air-travel and international holidays was not the norm, our mothers packed the family off to the grandparents’ homes for some heavy duty pampering. Memories of those smaller towns, bigger houses, simpler times and lots of love, by which I mean good (oh so good) food, and total freedom to do whatever the heart desired. 

2.    Mangoes, Lots of Them

As the calendar turned from April to May boxes of mangoes came pouring in. The whole family would sit and eat together before, during or after meals. Langra, Dusheri, Chausa or Alphonso, gave us so much delight! Back when gorgeous ladies from the movies didn't sell mango drinks, the act of relishing the king of fruits, dirtying all the fingers and clothes in the process, was such a fun and innocent thing to do! 

3.    Rasna, Roohafza and Frooti

Aerated drinks were not always easily accessible for kids. We had our own versions of cold, refreshing drinks, which our moms would make every day and keep in a steel utensil for us to devour when we came home after playing in the heat. The memory of that cold drink still freshens me up.

4.    Splashing in a Pool

Many of us had the inflatable pools or any well or pool near our homes, which we’d jump in at the first sight. In smaller towns, there were cool bore wells which were such a delight to leap into! While filling the inflatable pools with the pipe, we used to have water fights with each other and be drenched even before entering the pool. Such good times! 

5.    Hill Stations

Away from the immense heat, we headed to the nearest hill-stations. For north Indians it was Shimla, Nainital, Mussoorie or Manali. For south, it was Coorg, Ooty or Munnar. For east, it was Darjeeling or Shillong, and for west it was Mount Abu, Panchgani or Lonavala. There are so many more options now and with new international locations like Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka becoming more and more affordable, summer holiday planning has taken a different turn Ask any 90s kid, the scent of fresh mountain air in the foggy mornings of a hilly town trumps any other travel idea. 

6.     Reading Books and Comics

Time away from school books meant reading more books (for some kids!). Fun, exciting, fictional books, through which we travelled around the world and back. We grew up on Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven and Famous Five, and dreamt of having picnics with mouth-watering jam sandwiches, root beer, and, delicious cut fruit and clotted cream. We formed our own little clubs and groups, and made our own secret dens where we’d plan our next adventure. In a time when smartphones and playstation didn't exist, we read to our heart’s desire about Nancy Drew solving mysteries and the Hardy Boys’ adventures. Chacha Chaudhary was our favourite character and reading Champak Comics cover-to-cover the best way to pass time! Summer meant reading, lots and lots of it, and it was so exciting to let our imagination wander.

7.    Taking a Family Holiday

Summer holidays were always associated with travel and family bonding.. Those train rides, with one-too-many suitcases, bulky bedding and lots of food, were so exciting. Laughing with strangers in the train bogey, sharing food and stories. The happiness of travelling as a family is one which stays on, the sepia-tinted worn out photo albums still sparks smiles. 

After all this reminiscing, as I sit in an air conditioned room away from the sweltering heat, my heart tugs at the string of those wonderful moments and I wonder if I can wander down those memory lanes again, where the world was a simpler place and summer was a joy. Time to plan another summer vacation!