FROSTY FASCINATING WINTERTIME

 

Seasons blend in a colourful mélange of festivities, vibrating a varied life. Seasons represent rebirth and renewal. The cycle of nature has enthused many writers and poets. The certainty and the rhythms of seasons fade in and out like soft lullabies, signifying change.

In the North, the steel-grey clouds, nippy afternoons make way for cool winters after the sweaty and stifling monsoons. Thick night air dense with the intoxicating fragrance of the Harsinghar flowers and the carpet of blooms in the morning fills our hearts with happiness. Peace and grace descend slowly upon the mind in the sun-filled winter mornings.

 

Winter has vitality, unforgettable beauty, and the coolness in the air rejuvenates our lives. The comfort and warmth of winters have a magical aura. There is heavenly bliss in the wintry fireside, warm rugs and a mug of hot tea in the company of our loved ones. It is time to savour the gachak, halwa, and ladoos hurdled in the quilts. When you get up on a misty day, the trees, houses, gardens, and everything around is shrouded in the misty forest. It appears as if the clouds could not stand being away from earth anymore. The sheer fogginess, nothingness has mystery, the purity of existence. 

 

The darkness before the snowfall gives way to the fluffy white blanket which engulfs the whole place. Every descending snowflake fills our beings with sweet clarity, and everything appears magical. What a joy to walk in the fresh snow! The silence veiled in white lace is soothing to the mind, body and soul. The sprinkle of glistening snow on the bare trees speaks of fairy tales of spring.

The cold temperature intensified by the howling winds is frightening at times. Winters can be harsh, unpredictable and unforgiving for homeless beings. During the cold and dreary time, we may lose sight of our sense of wonder. A change in perspective can help us brace up for the season. “Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart,” rightly says Victor Hugo. The icy chill and the shining sun have purity and bliss that elevates the spirit. Seeds buried underground wait for spring to be alive again. “In every winter's heart there is a quivering spring, and behind the veil of each night there is a shining dawn,” observes Khalil Gibran. 

Winter festivals give us a reason to rejoice, dress in vivid clothes, and beautify our homes. We celebrate our diverse cultural heritage with harvest festivals of Lohri, Makrasakranti in the North, Bihu in the East and Pongal in the South, with much fanfare and gaiety. The Jaisalmer Desert festival in the deserts and the Goa Carnival, Christmas, and the Konark Dance festival complete the extravaganza of diversity and togetherness.

 

The fog lifts and the glowing sun shines bright. The laughter of the children in the playground interspersed with the chatter of the elderly soaking the long-awaited sunshine brightens the entire ambience. The radiance and warmth of the sun, with the fragrance of crisp wind, is refreshing. Tiny buds are sprouting on bare branches. Spring is in the air.