Musk melon seeds

 

There are so many varieties of fruits that everyone wants to eat in summer, especially fruits with high water content. Among them Water Melon, Musk Melon are important. These two fruits cool the body and provide relief from summer heat. These are the fruits that are available to everyone at low price. Musk melon is a fruit of the genus Cucumis. Its scientific name is Cucumis melo. Per 100 grams, melons provide Vitamin A and Vitamin-C and 34 calories.

The outer skin of the musk melon is thick and rough. But inside everything is soft. In some varieties the outer skin is also thinner. They emit an odor when ripe, the kind of wonderful aroma associated with Musk deer. Hence they are called muskmelon. During the summer, muskmelons are grown in dry sandy river beds. Siddhavatam in Kadapa district is very famous for these fruits. The taste of the fruit is unique and very sweet.

The pulp is light orange in color and tastes good providing low calorie sweetness. After drying, the seeds are peeled and inside kernel (softer edible part of the seed contained within its shell) is eaten. Kernel inside the seeds are also used as a dressing for sweets, kheer, curries, scented areca (betel) nuts etc.

People in Kadapa and Kurnool districts in 1960s 70s had a habit of enjoying not only the muskmelon fruit, they also enjoyed eating the dried seeds of the fruit. They were easily getting attracted to these seeds in those days. Carpet of the split seed covers on the floor in cinema halls, insides of busses, bus stands etc were a common sight and proved the popularity of this dirty habit. These seeds were carried in the shirt and pant pockets. A seed is taken out from the pocket and put into one's mouth. Dried seed is placed in a vertical position between the front teeth. With precision that addicts only possess, just enough pressure is applied so that the seed's hard shell splits exposing the inside kernel (pappu) The hard inedible covers are spit out and the inner kernel (pappu) is eaten. This habit is akin to smoking and alcohol drinking and thus became an addiction. Unlike boozing and smoking, this is a health hazard for people around though does not damage own health. Fortunately, this is no more liked by the current generation or else in these days of Covid19, we can well imagine the potential for spread of the decease.  

I wish to share my weaknesses with you. I loved Musk melon seeds (కర్బూజ విత్తనాలు) I do not remember how I fell in love with musk melon seeds (విత్తనాలు). I always carried these seeds in my pocket and was eating them. My parents frowned at this dirty habit of spitting out the hard shell. It was a dirty habit I found very hard to stop. After attending All India Scout Jamboree in Allahabad in 1964, I visited Varanasi temple. There being a practice to renounce what one likes most in Kasi, my obvious choice was musk melon seeds (కర్బూజ విత్తనాలు). If you want to laugh at my choice of the item for renunciation, feel free to laugh out loudly. I won't feel bad. I thus got rid of the dirty and unhealthy habit at last, with the blessings of Lord Kasi Viswanatha.