Kathakali Chatterjee wrote this article.
I almost forgot how it felt to get completely drenched in a downpour after suffering in a scorching heat for three months. I remembered it yesterday as I got soaked in an early June thunderstorm last night - when you do you know much long waited monsoon has finally arrived. It feels divine.
The rainstorm last night brought back my own childhood memory when "monsoon" used to mean enjoying "rainy days" (staying back home as life comes to a complete stop because of the super heavy shower), it meant snuggling in the bed with a story book and listening the drizzle or thunder outside, it meant making paper boats and trying them to keep steadily floating the water logged backyard, it meant the smell of steaming hot tea or coffee and various fried snacks in the kitchen...
It also meant a yearning, you never quite knew for what but you could feel it.
Indian monsoon has many moods, colors and smell of its own. Starting from being a horrifying super heavy shower it can be drizzling for seven consecutive days, it can also be a light spell of sprinkle like a whisper, the most important thing is - it's fun!
The first rain cloud has a gorgeous look; at times scary and rough but mystic as well.
I still remember myself looking at the sky - extremely terrified but eagerly awaiting a cleansing effect by a poerful rainstorm. It purifies one as it washes away all the dirt from the face of earth and gives a new life to the natire.
It's equally refreshing to watch a clear blue sky after a heavy shower; so soothingly soft!
My being away from this seasonal changes for last couple of years somewhat faded my memory, but to much of my joy, the first drop of water brought back the lost moments instantly.
Of course, as a matured professional I can't just sit back home and enjoy a "rainy day" any more, moreover with one of the unwell parents at home the idea of a life stopping downpour is pretty frightening but it is good to discover that the monsoon still makes me feel amazingly nostalgic.
The yearning is still there... I don't quite know for what.
Monsoon has a romantic connotation with Indian culture, its sound is often compared to a sweet murmur and the gentle touch as a passionate one.
Bollywood can't do without a rain dance sequence in its movies.
It welcomes the season as well cherishes the happy mood.
These dance sequenes these days became more rauchy than romantic but it still plays a huge crowd puller.
I know monsoon also means constant rain and gloomy, extremely humid weather for 2/3 months, water logged streets in the cities, and flood in villages, but I saving those topics for another article.
Let's enjoy the special moments in life for some time - reality can wait a bit!
Excellent article, Katha!
You surprised me with this one. I had no idea monsoons were a thing of beauty. I thought they were only to be feared -- like hurricanes and tornadoes. Thanks for the education!
I too thought that monsoons were scary. Even seeing them in the Karate Kid video game made them look quite scary - people being blown about, etc. :)
Hi David, thank you!
Monsoon is continuous heavy rain for 2/3 months minus the storm, so it’s more calamitous than scary.
It’s the summer storm which is a miniature version of tornado/ hurricane causes more immediate damage.
Monsoon causes severe flood when goes overboard…
Nearly three years ago, Mumbai – India’s financial and film capital got submerged under water, killing hundreds of people and others homeless.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/07/31/india.flood/
But still, a timely monsoon is fun!
Hi Katha --
So I guess there are good and bad monsoons? I thought they were all bad based on the news reports!
Hey Gordon!
Monsson is not scary, it's frustrating if goes on...
Each and every Hindi movie has a rain dance sequence - if not more...to say the least!
Yes David, there are good monsoons and bad ones!
1/3rd. of India still depends on this three months rain for their firming - so definitely a well timed monsoon is always welcome!
But yes, a heavy one really causes life, home, land...
Katha!
What a wonderful topic! and great photographs too! you forgot about the smell of the earth when the first raindrops fall :)
can't wait for the monsoon to start!
I too remember those long afternoons in the middle of the season when it seemed like it would rain forever and spending hours reading! and in the evenings when we would be out playing and it would start pouring all of a sudden and we would just continue to play because it just didn't make sense to stop for the rain! and then those rich, luxurious colds that visited us kids frequently during that time and school was just a place where we'd pass them on to our friends!
Hey Dananjay,
I didn't forget, I deliberately avoided it.
I smelt the first drop of rain on the earth in USA, it's so different than India that it is beyond my capacity to capture it and describe ...
I agree with you in everything, except enjoying the sickness...I hate being sick!!! That too getting caught by a bad cold!!!
Katha! i don't enjoy a cold myself. makes my head feel like somebody poured cement through my ears while i was sleeping!
Oh, forgot to mention one one thing - these photographs were not taken by me - these are stock photograph availble in online resources...