Mango heaven

Mangoes are in season in India and The New York Times had a great article capturing the mango mania happening now. (You have to register to see Times articles).  I have only been in India at the very beginning of mango season, when they are still quite pricy, and haven't experienced the markets as described in the article. The article contrasts the care and value placed on ripe mangoes to the neglect and disregard for animals, particularly puppies sold in the same markets:

Unlike the caged puppies, newly arrived mangoes at the market get to bed down in hay for a whole week, ensuring that they ripen evenly from cool green to hot yellow. Then, once the mangoes are ready, shoppers nuzzle them affectionately against their faces as if the mangoes were sad and needed comforting, another treat withheld from the arguably more deserving puppies.

Photo: Mangoes for sale at the Crawford Market in Mumbai. Santosh Verma for The New York Times