Five creators share the childhood summer memories they still can’t get over

Before summer became about booking getaways and curating the perfect holiday, it was about slower days, sticky fingers, and the kind of joy you didn’t need to plan. For these creators, the season still carries echoes of childhood, of ice cream carts outside school gates, long afternoons at their nani’s house, and nights spent under starlit skies. Here, they look back at the moments that made summer feel endless, and why those memories still linger long after the season fades.

Iilisha Singh Kaura

“My entire life is measured in summers—almost like winter didn’t count,” says Belly in The Summer I Turned Pretty, and that’s exactly how I feel. Childhood summers meant bringing home tubs of ice cream in sitaphal (custard apple), coconut, and mango flavours and sharing them as a family, chatting and enjoying the warmth of leisurely evenings. What made these moments special was that they were few and far between. My dad was in the military, and my brother was in a hostel for most of the year, so summer vacation was when we were all together under one roof. Our ice cream sessions eventually turned into card games, which were full of laughter, cheating, and the pain of brain freeze. Even today, when I pick up a tub of ice cream, that nostalgic feeling surfaces...a little bit of home in every scoop.

Arjun Madan

Summer was the best season! Vacation from school, heading to a hill station with my parents, staying at my nani’s house for weeks at a time, and pool parties with friends. But my mom enrolling me for a Barry John theatre workshop is my favourite summer memory of all time. Even though I was really anxious at the age of 12, I gradually made friends, began enjoying rehearsals, and eventually got cast as the lead in the play we were meant to present. We performed at Dilli Haat and India Habitat Centre (both cultural hubs in New Delhi), which is a memory I will never forget, as I had never performed in front of an audience before. Looking back, that moment was special. It was probably the first time I felt confident putting myself out there. In a strange way, I think that experience shaped what I do today. My stage is digital now, but that feeling of performing for an audience still exists.

Anmol Dua

My favourite summer memories are those spent with my cousins at my nani’s (maternal grandmother) house in Kanpur. The most thrilling aspect of our afternoons together was when the bell rang, announcing the arrival of falooda ice cream. As soon as we’d hear it, we would all storm out of the house and wait our turn. The classic rose-flavoured falooda with a melting scoop of kulfi was the ideal summertime delight. In hindsight, what made it special wasn’t just the dessert, but the excitement of devouring it together. As adults, life moves faster and such moments are rare. Every summer still reminds me that the most meaningful memories aren’t the big plans but the small rituals that bring the people you love together. I do find myself chasing that feeling in small ways...sometimes through food, through family gatherings, or simply slowing down enough to enjoy the season and reminisce about the good old days.

Shiv Khandelvwal

Those ice cream carts stationed outside school is the first thing that springs to mind. Waiting with friends for an orange bar or a cola ice pop after class felt like the highlight of the day. Summers also meant family trips to the beach, often in Goa, where everything felt slower and simpler. What made those memories special is that people were just more present back then. There were no phones or distractions; it was about being with family and friends in the moment. I think those experiences really shaped how I spend my summers today. My love for beaches definitely comes from those childhood trips, and even today, I instinctively plan holidays somewhere near water. I also find little ways to recreate those memories—trying local, seasonal ice creams when I travel, or enjoying mangoes with vanilla ice cream at home, just like my dadi (paternal grandmother) used to serve it.

Kinjal Mahesh Bhanushali

My most cherished summer memories are those spent with my cousins at my nani’s house. Think a sprawling bungalow with a large tree in the yard and the most endearing routine of doing nothing significant. We ate far too many mangoes, played non-stop with friends, and forgot that homework even existed. But it was at night that the real magic took place. All the cousins slept on the terrace under the stars, sharing scary and hilarious stories. The beauty of it all was that there were no gadgets, no timetables, and no need to be productive. It was just laughter, mango-stained hands, and a sky full of stars. Even to this day, summer is a time when I find myself longing to slow down and allowing the evenings to stretch a little longer with the people I love.

This article first appeared in Cosmopolitan India's March-April 2026 print edition.

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