The condensed milk ritual and the passage to manhood

Dating back to sometime between 1873 and now, the condensed milk ritual was born in Mayo College (other boarding schools may have their own legends, but this is ours.), Ajmer. It all began the first time a hungry schoolboy from the aforementioned institution tasted the thick, gooey and sickeningly sweet syrup someplace under the sun (or moon, depending on the time of day). The moment was glorious. Legend has it that as soon as the creamy goo touched his tongue an actual lightbulb lit up above his head. The light from this bulb was seen for miles away leading to the myth that a star had burst very close to the Earth, say a few million light years away, give or take a few.

Right away the young lad knew that the concoction he had in his possession was a true gift from the Gods. It was sticky, had no nutritional value and was so horrendously sweet that it could have you throwing up within a few seconds of chugging it (which could only be done straight from the tin via two scientifically calculated holes drilled using a protractor). Yes, this would make the perfect drink for pre-pubescent dorm parties where fraternal bonds were formed.

As the boys get older this bonding ritual is then performed by the consumption of copious quantities of tobasco sauce staight from the bottle (see who can drink the most, and who can drink this and not have any water for the longest time are the favourite versions of this game), which then gives way to the sniffing of glue or other intoxicants like thinner and white ink (at least in the case of some kids, while a vast majority give this stage a skip and graduate straight to the next one) and finally to the final stage (this one goes on for the rest of a man's life, or at least till a doctor puts a stop to it for health reasons) consumption of large quantities of alcohol over which many a brotherly bond is formed and even the most macho of men can be seen breaking down like blubbering idiots.

And that is how the condensed milk ritual makes a man out you!

Here are a few shots of my dad's cousins reminiscing about the good old days by knocking back a few cans of milkmaid.



Let the games begin!





Chug! Chug! Chug!





Now why don't you try some?





Ohmygod! I can't believe she did that!




Ohmygod!I can't believe I just did that!




There, there.. It's not that bad. Let me show you how it's done!




..and that is how it's done!



Well this is the authentic way. Remember?


Two holes on the lid (now the base, because the lid can easily be opened nowadays).




Salud!



Not one to shy away from anything that make most normal folk cringe, I too joined the party!
Not too bad, but I wouldn't make this my regular poison.




And then there were some who bravely raised the cup to their lips.....



.....only to let it fall...and then run off into the darkness, presumably to be sick.