Empress Of Seasons

Its end of September, rains almost over, at least thats what i hope. Now a days monsoons come and go as its pleases, all predictions about it coming a week earlier, moderate to good rains, etc all gets washed away. Well in Chennai though, pre monsoons are supposed to start soon, but this year it has been raining off and on, along with other parts of the country, so i guess we can get to enjoy a little bit of the change in the weather as the next season Autumn approaches.

Autumn, the very sound of it has a kind of music to it, its like a song, a very sweet, melodious, song, bringing in notes that have been hidden deep somewhere in our hearts, and then suddenly peeping out one morning, softlty , tip toeing, and then bursting in high notes in all its glory. In Bengali its called the Shaarod Ritu, the season of festival, joy, happiness, new expectations, new harvest, freshness, fragrance, of sweet new blooms of the Dopati, Jui (Jasmine), Shewli ( Parijat I guess), Gendha ( Marigold ), fresh new grass and leaves that peep out timidly from the branches of the trees and shrubs, to check if the rains have stopped lashing the earth since the monsoon started. On the other hand the Kaash Phool shrubs, found only in Bengal, along with the ripe dhaan ( Paddy) stalks, sway their heads gleefully to the soft breeze hailing the arrival of the Empress of the seasons, Autumn.

Shaarod Ritu, or Autumn has a special place in the hearts of every Bengali, and so also in me as it is the season when Maa Durgaa arrives to celebrate with her children, her devotees, all over the earth. In anticipation Mother Earth too prepares herself in all her glory and dresses herself in her finest of garments. While birds sing hymns in praise of Maa Durga, Mother Earth too wears fresh delicate new grass and leaves, adorns herself with the flowers of this season, in colours of red, pinks, peaches, of the dopati blooms, the golden orange and yellow of the marigolds, and the beautiful white of the jui, and finishing it off with a garland of shewli, as it is so special, tiny white flowers with a deep orange stem, how very enchanting. Perfumes of all these flowers surround her and spread all over. She covers her head with the deep blue of the sky with puffs of clean spotless pristine white clouds. The rivers flow with renewed vigor as the monsoons had overfilled them since the last four months. The ponds too celebrate with new blooms of the lotus and lillies, and the golden hue of the sunlight paints Mother Earth's face with its glow, that changes colours at different times of the day.

The early morning glow is all deep red with touches of green, blue, purple and light yellow, all blending tastefully into each other. The Sun quietly tip toes and peeks out from the horizon, all red in colour, spreading its crimson red glow all over the horizon, gradually rising all along changing its colour from the shy blushing red to the youthful gold and then bright white, spreading the glow all over the sky in celebration of first day of the new season. There is a particular fragrance in the air, typical of this season, and with it comes a slight nip in the early morning air. Birds too sing a very different tune, special to this season, the beetles, bees and butterflies join in a dance to celebrate, the breeze is gentle, carrying with it the autumn fragrance. The white fertile delta soil is not wet but not too dry either. All over there is a mark of celebration.

As the day progresses the sun gets warmer, but not too uncomfortable to bear, as the pristine white clouds always take care to come and provide a cozy shade. By evening the warm sun prepares to set, turning from bright white to gradual vermillion red, spreading its red glow all over the sky and earth and all over the trees, shrubs, rivers and ponds, giving the impression of a beautiful bride all dressed up in all her wedding finery with deep red Sindoor ( vermillion) on the parting of her head.

Night quietly approaches with the fireflies and glow worms humming and flashing their lights as if they were trying to compete with the stars up in the sky. With the clear sky and dustless air the stars appear more than bright, filling every inch of the sky. The Moon too now makes her appearance fearlessly, now that no monsoon clouds will force her to hide. Growing bit by bit every night she reaches a full circle and completes the whole picture. Earth is now ready to celebrate and welcome Mother Divine, Durgaa. But wait a minute, isnt Mother Earth, the Divine Mother, Maa Durgaa all the same and isnt the season of all seasons, Sharood Ritu, celebrating Her glory. The Sharood Utsav, is the celebration of the glory of Mother Nature, Mother Earth, Maa Durgaa. No wonder she is the season of all seasons, the Empress of all Seasons.