BREEZY AUTUMN 

Summer is long gone, the monsoon is retreating, and we embrace the exhilarating autumn with open arms. The warmth of summer and the nurturing dampness of the monsoon signals the transition to pleasant autumn dancing in the breeze. The clear blue sky, the lush green foliage give us hope of the return of normalcy in the pandemic times.  It is soulful to arise and revel in the autumn mist while the dewdrops on the grass soothe the soles of your feet. Keats called autumn, "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness."

The days are short, with crisp nights full of dazzling stars. With the dreamy days and mellow evenings, there is a craving to sit back and enjoy the comfort of the blissful weather. “Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking successive autumns.” Rightly expressed George Eliot. 

Awaken the senses with the heavy scent of autumn and drink the colourful landscape of nature. On a crisp September morning, it is blissful to relax in a cozy nook of the garden with a cup of tea and watch the rain-soaked trees dancing to the whistling wind. The cool and fragrant air emanating from the earth encompasses the whole being with renewed vigour. The calming weather is a time for introspection and reflection while we take in the serene moments. 

The spectacular burst of autumn colours gleaming in sunshine render some solace in pandemic times. The creamy white, yellow-tinged Champa, the showy Periwinkle with a burst of pink, the stunning open cup Portulaca with succulent leaves, delicate Cosmos in feathery foliage, a symbol of happiness and joy-the rain lilies, flushes of Balsam and white jasmine are the divine palette of autumn; the precious nectar for the swarming bees. Epiphany at the sight of a white carpet of fallen Harsingar flowers one September morning will stay with me forever.

One can lose oneself in the golden Harud (autumn) in Kashmir with the air scented with the iridescent leaves of the Chinar trees. In the quaint hues of autumn, taking a walk amidst the rustle of the fallen leaves is an experience beyond compare. Farmers return to their farmlands for the annual harvest of the precious saffron and pick the luscious apples from the orchards across the valley. They enjoy a hot cup of Kahwa after a long day of harvesting in the cool evenings. The air along the marshy wetlands is heavy with the sounds of Cicada insects in the willow trees. 

The ethereal beauty of vast green fields lined with the regimented Eucalyptus trees, the leisurely foggy morning is soothing in the plains. Farmers in Punjab have harvested the corn and are getting the land ready for planting winter greens to relish Sarson ka Sag in the chilly winter weather.

The green jungles, coffee plantations, breezy beaches, the backwaters, and the ambient weather in autumn in South India is a time to visit in better times.

The  whimsical show of nature, changing rhythms, the fragrances, the aromas, the festivities cheer us to marvel at the magnificence of nature. The rippling cheerfulness of autumn is a bright spot in otherwise bleak times.The joyful spirit is in the air, with Onam, Teej, Eid, Janamashtmi, and Diwali on the way. It is time to rejoice in the vibrant festivals with friends and families.