Mango culture as depicted in Gambhira folklore

The folklores are the exclusive manifestation of symbiosis between folk and environment for any ethnic group which portray the way of folk life. The Gambhira cultural milieu is built around religious beliefs and the focal theme is centered on God Shiva. The study aims to explain how the mango culture is deeply associated with the livelihoods of people of Malda that have been cited and illuminated in Gambhira folklore. Mango is the principal as well as traditional fruit crop of the district. The crop has a wide range of acceptability amongst the masses. This descriptive study found that mango culture has profound influence on the livelihoods of the people belonging in different socio-economic strata encompassing basket makers to international traders. This exotic crop is so deeply entrenched in the cultural dimension of rural people of Malda that a number of folklores portraying the happiness, sorrow and melancholy associated with its cultural operation, production, trade and economy took the place of pride and centrality in everyday amusement events. In addition to the socio-economic significance, this exotic fruit crop has religious-cultural relevance in everyday lives of the people. No doubt, the mango is the economic base while the Gambhira forms the socio-cultural base for this geographic milieu. The duo cultures cannot go differently and indeed represent the region to the outer world.