Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Colours of the Season



Colours of the Season

Earth, Water, Sky
Everything has its own colour,
I always wondered why?
Do the seasons have colour?
I decide to give them my.

March, April, May,
The summer was on its way,
nights had turned shorter,
longer was the day,
Mumbai, Delhi or Kullu,
Everywhere there was loon,
So I choose yellow and blue


Summer has always been fun. When I was in school, by this time the exams were done and days of freedom had come. The childhood was so incredible; we never felt the need to spend on team building like we are now taught in the corporate world. A new resident kid was easily absorbed and was our own from day one. For us it was simple games that tied us in lifelong inseparable bond. We hardly watched TV; never knew when the day started and end. The day started with cricket in the morning, back home I was for breakfast at ten, then again off for playing marbles. The afternoons were usually spent indoors with chess, carom and cards. Again in the evening we had our kutta meetings that followed by series of games in the night. Few played badminton under the street light, while most of us enjoyed playing saakhli (human chain), stop & party (hide and seek) dabba ice-pice and the list goes on and on. It was indeed time memorable.

Even now as an adult I am lucky to be doing what I am doing. As an independent advocate this time of the year, the courts have vacations. I utilize this time to explore new avenues. In my profession I have this liberty to still have that feeling of school time, with all this vacations J

June, July, August,
Rains have to be must
clouds pregnant with water,
were pouring down,
banging were the shutter,
gushing were the gutter,
it was wet all around,
everything was drenched,
from sky to ground,
umbrellas and rain-coats come out,
most are black  & white no doubt

Rains have always been fascinating. It’s time for new things, new beginnings. With new bags, rain-coats, new books, a new year begins at school.

I have been born and brought up in a small town about 3 hours from Bombay, which is a valley surrounded by mountains on all sides and we are truly blessed to have river which flows throughout the year. But in monsoons it is full to its brim. Sitting on the bridge with friends having a hot bhutta, vada pav and bhajjiya enjoying the scenic beauty of the greenery clad mountains is simply mesmerizing and something I have never missed. With forests just kilometers away, one more thing that we friends have religiously been doing is going on treks and then rappelling down right from middle of a waterfall (waterfall rappelling). There is also the river rafting, ploughing the rice paddy and with many different things to do throughout the season it just keeps getting better.

When earlier college and then work brought me to Bombay, I never missed the monsoon fun. I have equally enjoyed it here, the scenic mountains have been replaced by the vintage Gate Way of India and here I sit with friends on the marine drive looking across the mesmerizing high waves in the Indian Ocean. The one thing that has remained constant is the hot bhutta and bhajjiyas. Sitting there and feeling the rain drops on my face with a cool breeze is simply rejuvenating.

I have heard people in city crib about bad roads, potholes, shabby infrastructure and transport during monsoon. But back in villages of India this is the most sought after and loved season of the year. This season is the life line of the middle class of India who is the backbone of the Indian economy to an extent. The Monsoons are on which they depend for agriculture which still remains the main source of income to most of the Indian middle class. Therefore there, people of all ages are truly happy with the arrival of monsoons.

But all this fun and frolic comes with a rider. As kids we had to strictly carry homemade food and boiled water wherever we go. Not even a sip outside was allowed and a tetanus injection was a must. Still some of us had a weak resistance and used to suffer from fever, water borne diseases etc., but still none cribbed as being ill means missing school and being pampered. And for adults sometimes due to heavy pouring down it was a day off at work. So it was always awaited by one and all.

September, October, November,
Now it is all sober,
Winter has taken over,
lakes, trees, rivers
everything has a cover,
fruits, flowers, leaves
orange, pink, green
kaleidoscope of colour,
is all over

Winter infuses in all of us a fresh lease of hope. It is pleasant everywhere and very soothing to the eyes is a splash of colour all around. The earth is beautifully painted in pale blue hues of a hydrangea, sun-drenched chrysanthemums, hues of roses pink, the vibrant orange and many more. Time to let your diet go for a toss; the markets are filled with some exotic tropical fruits and green leafy vegetables.

Here in India it is the festival time across religions. It’s time to meet and greet. Even for student it’s the mid-term holidays and so the overall mood is upbeat. I have always looked forward to the family get-together that takes place at this time of the year. But the festivals I enjoy the most are Ganpati festival and being a Gujju the Navratri is which I love the most. It’s the most colourful season of the year. There is festival of lights Diwali & Eid, and the vivacious people wearing clourful clothes for nine days of Navratri brightens up everything and in the end there is colour of victory on Dussera, and then comes the Thanksgiving. This season brings to the shore the Unity in Diversity of India where people from different religions take part in each other’s festivals and celebrate it together with equal joy. This is the most awaited time of the year for me!!!

December, January, February
The winter has just subsided,
with crimson red the year has ended,
With spring
the golden sun has risen,
taking us towards a new horizon


Spring is generally not acknowledged as a season in Indian sub-continent, but it is one of the most beautiful seasons.


As Charles Dickens explains in Great Expectations, “Spring is the time of year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade.”


It’s the season of reincarnation. The trees symbolize it all so well. It shows us that we have to shred all uncertainties, worries and hatred and start a new life. It is time to make new Resolutions (which are hardly followed). Even as a child it gave me immense pleasure as the school was about to end.

It’s spring which has introduced me to the world; my birthday falls in the month of February. This is apt season to party; there is a feeling of revival and a fresh beginning and to top it all, the effervescent atmosphere. It also helps me as the schools are about to end, the children are mostly free. I prefer spending better part of the day with these less privileged kids who stay in the resident school near my place. They have no one to call their own, and it gives me sense of contentment when I go out there and spend my birthday with them every year, only after which I throw a party for my friends later at my place.

Each season teaches us something about life, and Yoko Ono sums it up very well here –
Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.”

May be as she doesn’t live in India, she missed out on Monsoon. Add Monsoon to it, it would be as below.

Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.
Monsoon passes and one remembers one’s endurance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.”

                                                                                                                 karan

3 comments:

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  2. WOw Karan, kya baat hai. You made me go thru all the seasons adorned with rich colours. Each season is so well-described and playing dabba ice-pice, saakhli is all nostalgic for me. Enjoyed your post.

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    Replies
    1. welcome to my space Kalpana...I'm glad you enjoyed reading it :)

      Delete

~ Thanks for sharing your thoughts, keep reflecting ~

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