Under a bougainvillaea tree in Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park, three cousins tried to make two books last between them. By the end of the afternoon, the plots had blurred, the ants had arrived, and the nap had become the real highlight.

That is the charm of a picnic. Whether it is a carefully planned family tradition, a spontaneous afternoon spent under a tree, or a special day made memorable by the people around us, picnics have a way of slowing life down and creating space for connection.

As part of Picnic Day, members of The Better India’s English editorial team looked back on some of their most cherished picnic memories.

Avantika Krishna: The readers' meet that became more about naps than books

My cousins and I went to Bengaluru's Cubbon Park Readers' Meet on a Sunday in April with exactly two books between the three of us.

We thought it would be crowded, but it was pleasantly calm. There was a big bougainvillaea tree above us, green grass beneath us, and lots of ants around us (some of them red, as we later discovered).

Our genius system was to read a page, pass the book to the next person, read another page, and keep rotating.

Somewhere along the way, all three of us lost track of the plots. We'd be handed a book and have no idea who was doing what or why. It was incredibly confusing and surprisingly entertaining.

The weather was breezy and warm. We had one dupatta spread out under the trees, and at some point, I gave up on following either story and took what might have been the best nap of my life. While I was asleep, the other two got a book each to themselves.

The sun got intense pretty quickly, and that's when the red ants decided to start biting us. So we scrambled off the grass, packed up, and left earlier than planned.

We definitely did more sleeping, chatting, and confusing ourselves than actual reading, but it was one of the most relaxing picnics I've had in a while.

It also made me realise that you don't need much for a successful picnic. Just a patch of grass, good company, something to read (or nap through), a few unhurried hours outdoors, and maybe some food to munch on.

You cannot really bring it along with you, but I think the ultimate picnic essential is good weather. It can turn an ordinary outing into the perfect day. 

Maybe that is why, when I think about my dream picnic destination, I imagine a place where you can spend hours outdoors without feeling rushed. 

If I could have a picnic anywhere in the world, it........

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