A monsoon vacation...and a monsoon baby!

A tapestry of green greeted me as soon as I set foot in Kerala. Monsoon season in southern Asia had begun, and in India the rains arrived ahead of schedule. As always or coincidentally this time, I was rushing home during the monsoons. A riot of lush greenery greeted me. The never ending pouring rains and the sweet intoxicating smell of the earth is an amazing experience.

Killing time in the railway station, I picked up the newspaper. In northern India, heavy monsoon rains had caused chaos, leaving at least 150 dead and tens of thousands stranded. Sad. What a paradox!

The pitter patter of the rain, the anticipation of the baby and the umpteen visits to the nearby tea stall from the hospital set the mood for this vacation. I was quite loving it - the monsoons had picked up and there was only word for it "pouring". I don't remember seeing such huge rain drops, or perhaps I never noticed them before. The rain is my element, has always been my element - our element!. I was smiling with glee when the monsoon baby arrived. I am sure it will be her element as well.The skies and the heavens opened up when she was born - the atmosphere enthralling. That night, none of us slept. It was heavenly musical outside, pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter patter and the musical cries of the baby inside

My tryst with Indian Coffee House grew stronger these hols. When the rain gods cried and I was caught napping without an umbrella, I would run to the nearest restaurant. Aaah Indian Coffee House, your "strong" chaai is much better than any of the Cafe Coffee Days anytime! Drinking umpteen chaai from the tea stalls - I quite surprised myself when I decided to have tea one after the other from 3 stalls that were 10 m apart, just see to see if I would get tired of drinking chaai. I spent hours and hours gazing at the bokehful rain and experimenting with out of focus shots - perfect way to be at home.

The bus journey to my better half's native every alternate day was interesting. The ksrtc bus rolling over the hilly terrains would put me to sleep like a rocking baby - but i would force myself to keep my eyes open just to catch the glimpse of that quintessential & omnipresent fog over the hills and mountains. I kept promising myself that i need to stop at that very spot, climb over a tree or something to capture that wonderful scene. Perhaps the next holidays....there is always a next time....

If this is pleasure - I hope it rains every day.

Vishukanni

Vishu  is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala. My childhood flashed before me when we started the preparation for this years Vishu. The roles were reversed - I was  no longer the kid who was awaken from sleep at dawn by his parents :( 


Childhood is such a funny phase - some memories are as fresh as this morning. It was with glee and excitement I looked forward to Vishu every year. Sole reasons being the Vishu Kaineettam and Vishu Sadhya. It is a gift of money given to children by the elder members of the family - something which I would await for a whole year. The Malayalam word kani literally means "that which is seen first", so "Vishukkani" means "that which is seen first on Vishu".

The Vishukkani consists of a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles like raw rice, fresh lemon, golden cucumber, arecanut, metal mirror, yellow flowers konna (Cassia fistula),fruits,vegetables and a holy text and currency and coins, in a bell metal vessel called uruli in the puja room of the house.

On Vishu, the custom is to wake up at dawn and go to the puja room with eyes closed so that the Vishukkani is the first sight of the new season. An auspicious kani (first sight) at dawn on the Vishu day is lucky for the entire year.And it is such a beautiful sight that greets your eyes.

The first rains...and a monsoon vacation

The intoxicating smell of the first rain....aaah... could not have asked for a better holiday package. Kerala and Goa are the best holiday destinations for the monsoon. Accompanied by our monsoon wedding - this was one of the best vacations I have ever had. 


Colorful umbrellas all over the house ( considering the fact that there are 4 naughty brats), wet cloths that never seem to dry looking rich and colorful, the lush greenery that greets you, the reflections of the coconut trees in the paddy fields, 'chakka vevichathau' ( a yummy jackfruit dish) and hot hot chaai whever you go, the delightful smile on my little niece's face as she experienced her very first monsooon in God's Own Country ....
If this is pleasure - I hope it rains every day.