Exhilarating Monsoons  

Make way for the thumping thundering clouds, monsoons are here! The curtain of rain comes falling on the parched earth taking away the scorching and the sultry weather. The invigorating aroma of the rain-drenched earth breathes life into us. Rain-soaked plants and trees appear anew; even mother earth’s thirst is quenched. The soft gratifying scent of the satinwood fills the air. Falling raindrops and the fragrance of wet earth have a sense of romantic aura, which has inspired many a poet. Meghdoot by  Kalidasa is a classic case in point. Tagore, an epitome of literature, art, and culture has written many a poem on the bounty of this season.

There is magic, madness, and nostalgia in the rainy season. Rains are life itself. The cool and wet monsoon brings a pleasant feeling to everyone around the place. Slow rhythmic raindrops on the roofs, falling into the puddles on the ground are soothing to the eyes and the frayed nerves. The soothing sound of the falling rain is a natural melody of mother earth. The coming of the monsoon season heralds a message of creation and rebirth. 

Days of continuous rainfall enrich the earth and its beings. There is richness in the colour of the foliage and blushed rain lilies are adding vibrancy to the scenery. Everything is bright and beautiful. Seeds that had lied dormant have suddenly sprouted with green shoots all around the place. New insects, born albeit with a limited life span, are enjoying their once in a lifetime flight. Monsoons bring in the constant croaking of the frogs, songs of the crickets, long call of peacocks, and if we are lucky we might spot a peacock dancing.

Monsoons bring back memories of childhood of running out and playing in the rain, making of paper boats and running wildly competing with paper boat races and the quintessential Chai pakora. Monsoon weaves its magic and enriches all beings on earth. “Rains showers my spirit and waters my soul”, rightly says Emily Logan Decens.

In the peak of the rainy season, one windy and sunny day brings in unexpected coolness albeit temporary but still worth it. Rain-soaked foliage and cool-weather is a heady cocktail for the day. Birds are relaxed and singing sweet morning song happily. Watching the morning clouds changing the scenery every few seconds is exhilarating.  The colours of the sky changing from stark grey to white with blue peeping through look amazing. The sun peeping through all this is intimidating a warm day. The hide and seek of clouds, sun, and wind are changing the scenery so fast that no mortal artist can compete with the supreme artist. The sun seems to have won as the dark clouds are withering away leading to a bright day. It is all fine as long as it is windy, but the moment the sun wins the battle from the wind, it is back to being hot and sultry. The stillness without even a whiff of air is making the birds quiet, occasionally broken by the moment of the birds and the fluttering of the butterflies.  

Rains continue at times with heavy downpour and at times all night long drizzle. Torrential and hammering rains bring in floods, homes and fields are washed away. The bright sun after weeks of continuous rain is welcoming. The earth is emitting coolness and trees are shivering with joy. The dewdrops on the grass seem like shimmering diamonds all over the garden. Butterflies are all over the place and the pink and white rain lilies are in full bloom, welcoming the Sun God. This sultry weather continues till the time the earth is drenched enough, leading to cool Sarad mornings.

GRATITUDE

 

 

                                     ENCHANTING KUMAON

The cool breeze emanating from the forest of Banbassa was a welcome change from the dry heat of Bareilly. The lush green trees on both sides of the road took away the weariness of the city life. Banbassa, located near the Nepal border, is a small town of Uttaranchal. It is a gateway to the hills. The weather is cool and the serene atmosphere adds to its charm. The view along the Sharda River, which divides India and Nepal, is captivating.

Moving on to Champawat from Banbassa along the narrow winding road, through the dense jungle of pine and sal trees full of monkeys, langurs, and numerous varieties of birds are enchanting. Champawat with a pristine view, situated at an altitude of 1610 meters, is one of the oldest towns of Kumaon valley. Originally it was the capital of the Chand Dynasty and according to mythology, the turtle incarnation of Lord Vishnu took place here. The Chand rulers built the famous Baleshwar temple, believed to be built in the twelfth century, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are two more temples in the compound, one dedicated to Ratneshwar and the other to Chmapawati Durga. These temples are stone structures with beautiful carvings outside as well as inside the temples.

Close to Champawat towards Lohaghat, one comes across an ashram nestled in thick deodar and pine jungles.  The nine-kilometer drive from Lohaghat to the ashram is lined with a thick untouched jungle of deodar and pine trees. One can hear birds chirping and enjoying their freedom without the noise of the outside world. Mayawati Advaita Ashram is a calm and quiet place with its beautiful cottage with flowers all over the place. It is no wonder that Swami Vivekananda chose this place for a spiritual quest. The ashram, housing a library and a museum, attracts spiritualists from India and abroad.

As one moves toward Pithoragarh, a sudden encounter with the grandeur of high mountain ranges takes one's breath away. When the road meanders from Ghat towards the high mountains one feels like a bird going closer and closer to the sky. Pithoragarh, with its natural splendor of greenery, meandering streams, and meadows, also known as mini Kashmir, is worth a visit. Locally known as Sor valley, this township was established by king Pithora in the later part of the 14th century. The panoramic view of Panchachuli and Nandadevi peaks and the dense forests from the Chandak hill is just out of a travel magazine.

On the route from Pithoragarh to Almora, are the ancient famous Jogeshwar temples. Set amidst the impenetrable deodar forest, these 124 stone temple structures are truly a visual treat. These splendid Lord Shiva temples, built between the 8th and 12th century, is a serene religious place for the Shiva devotees. As one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, these temples are esteemed for their architecture and stone carvings.

The breezy drive from these temples leads one towards Almora, a splendid hill station. Almora recognized for its healthy weather and picturesque beauty was the favourite place of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda. The air is fresh and clean, and a brisk walk around the place is refreshing after a long journey.

Kumaon is indeed enchanting. While tourists towards Uttrakhand are focused on a few better known hill stations, the virgin beauty on this route carved a special place on my heart.

              GRATITUDE FOR ALL THE APPRECIATION

              …….AND YET PEOPLE CALLED HER STRAY

Kanu, a long-eared brown colored stray and her three adorable pups came my way on a sunny evening, accepted food from my hands, and became my friends forever.

 It became a daily ritual despite the obvious disagreement of my four legged baby. Kanu would wait anxiously for me every day. Initially, I would carry a small treat for her, which she accepted graciously. Eventually, my insecure pet accepted our friendship. Soon I started carrying food for her entire brood and it was such a joy feeding Kanu and her adorable puppies. Seeing them enjoying the food gave me immense pleasure that the walk could not give.

 I started looking forward to my after-dinner walks just to be in the company of Kanu and her pups. She was like sunshine in my gloomy days. Whenever I was feeling low somehow Kanu would sense my loneliness and would come jumping all over me, and my loneliness would wither away. Kanu, an epitome of innocence gave love so wonderful which is cherished forever. A true Darvesh, the giver of selfless love, she moved me and warmed my heart beyond understanding.

One rainy afternoon I heard haunting cries of a dog but could not see anyone. Minutes later I heard a noise in the backyard. The site left me speechless and numb. Kanu was carrying a limp and lifeless pup in her mouth, and I sensed one of the pups had died. She brought the pup in my kitchen garden, where she used to get her feed. For her, the secure place was my garden and not the secluded cluster of trees and shrubs where she had given birth to them. She wanted a secure place to bury her pup. She buried the pup and mourned, looking around for support. Her cries, clearly audible in the heavy downpour, still haunt me. Despite the heavy downpour, I went across the garden to comfort her. I cajoled her to come inside the house. Drained and shattered after her mourning, she did accept milk and bread from me. She felt safe and secure in my house. The tangible love for progeny was evident in this soul-stirring experience.

The most difficult part was leaving the house due to the vagaries of army life. It was hard for me to have a life without Kanu. I could not take Kanu and her pups with me. The constant worry about her well being was weighing me down. Just then my maid came up to me and promised that she will regularly feed her and look after her.

 This was evident when I saw a healthy and happy Kanu jumping towards me when I visited the same place after a year. My heart knew no better joy than seeing the smiling face of Kanu.