Article by : Mr. Munaf Y. Wadkar
Summer in Kokan is called as ‘AAGOT’ or ‘AAGOTI’.
The period of 15 - 20 days before onset of Monsoon in Konkan is called as “AAGOT” or AAGOTI, it indicates the rain is nearing, it’s usually cloudy. During these days one may feel doussy, sleepiness, mild headache, breathlessness … etc.
This season Kokani people spend a lot of time in visiting relatives, friends, they go to Mumbai, Pune, and the city people come to villages, and families, native villages, they also visit rivers, beaches and hill stations. The children spend lot of time playing cricket, cycling, kabaddi, karrom, swimming … etc as they are in middle of May vacations. The ST reservations are not available. This season is also famous for marriages; it suits the need of Kokani people... If marriages comes then I must mention the DEG Salan, DEG Chawal, Pickles made with fresh mangos, and locally made papad.
The Kokani Woman starts preparations of Aagot, i.e. collection of groceries, making of Lal Masala, Garam masala … etc. collect dry fishes like Kolim, Sukat, Bombil, Ambar etc. this is to avoid any scarcity during heavy rains and storms. Woman always complain of wasting water in this season.
Parents starts arranging of school materials for children, their fees, and of course an umbrella. The Kokani Villagers repair the roofs of their houses, patching of plastic sheets, … etc. The young boys with Bicycle and MotorCycle puton greesing, and antirust applications. The fisherman usually takes their boats out of the sea. No Fishing in Storms... they repair and warnish their vessels. Some of them go for DAWA... Tablieegue or Umrah. The foreigner also think of visiting Konkan at this time only.
The climate becomes more and more humid, everyone need cold water to drink. One best thing in all above hassles is Mango. This is the season you find lot of mangos in market... special mangos, Hapus, Neelam, Badami, Ratna, Sindhu, Raiwal, Khobri, Bitki, Kesri, and Totapari at the end. If it is a plenty or in scarcity the mangos are available everywhere at the time of AAGOT
Other than mangos, you can have, Phanas (Jackfruit), Karonda (Caronda Berry), Kaju (Cashewnut), Torna, Hawla, Chikoo, Peru, Angur, Papaya, Alu, Zambhul, Safed Jam, and offcourse Coconut.
The days are long the nights are short, it is dusty everywhere, most of the villages strive for water. The Humidity is high, the electricity goes now and then, the sun is scorchy, water becomes heavy.... but then all We Alway Wait for this AAGOT in Kokan, because it brings lot of happiness. We wait for the Rains and we sing
Yere Yere Pawsa, Tula Deto Paisa, Paisa Zhala Khota, Paoos Ala Motha
Yego Yego Zari, Majhe Matke Bhari, Zar Aali Dhawoon, Matke Gele Wahoon
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