FEEL THE RAIN

 FEEL THE RAIN

It’s the season of the Green Carpet event once again; of life springing up from Dormant Earth. As the rains wash away the dirt and grime of a dusty summer, Nature gets a fresh makeover. 

The forest comes alive with the vibrant colors of wildflowers and the exuberant peacock shakes out his resplendent plumage as if to say “Come dance with me” In a dazzling display of dashing moves, he pays homage to the collecting clouds in the sky. 

Frogs in the pond lend their resonant voices to the orchestra of thunder and lightning in the firmament.

Have you ever danced in the rain? I used to wait eagerly every June for the first rains to come so I could run outside and get thoroughly drenched in the pouring shower. The smell of the mud drove us mad as my friends and I sang and laughed, abandoning all inhibitions to the wind that swept around us. The cooling waters cleansed our spirits and revived our souls. It was a truly awesome experience.

I relived this experience when I watched a Hindi movie many years ago; when Kajol urged the timid Akshay to fling away his umbrella and come feel the rain on his face in “Dillagi” Later, they danced in abandon to a rain song. 

Recently, in the movie ‘Rab Ne Bana De Jodi’ the hero Sharukh tells his beloved Tanni, “Pehli baarish me beegte jo mango woh zaroor milta hai. Just close your eyes and let every drop of rain reach your heart” When Tanni opens the window, recalls his words and feels the soothing sensation of the rain on her face, the experience is life-changing for her.

The farmer longs for rain; no sooner has he ploughed the field then he prays for it. A year of drought spells doom for the farmer who survives on rain to water his crops to abundant life. 

In ‘Lagaan’, at the first glimpse of the rain clouds, the drummer, in a drought-stricken part of Rajasthan, beats his drum to call the villagers’ attention to the much-awaited sight. The villagers, gazing with delight writ on their faces, dance in gay abandon to please the Rain God, pleading “Megha Re, Megha Re, Pani To Barasao Re”. 

Rains are indeed the lifeline of farmers and their families in such places. A year of drought could bring a flood of suicides for the debt-ridden’ men of the soil’.

Rains are vital not only for farmers and the growth of their crops, but also for all of us. We need water to drink, bathe, wash utensils and clothes and to nurture our gardens.

Many a times, we grumble when we see an ominous black cloud, dreading the impending monsoons because of the inconveniences it brings. Slush, drenched clothing, waterlogged gutters, floods, cyclones; these are the other side of the coin. But if we take proper precautions to prevent them, the monsoons can be a joyous season for us all.

As a school-going child once recited, “Tis fun to splish-splash in puddles And then get Mom’s scolds and cuddles”. Parents are careful to see that their children don’t get wet in the rains for fear that they might fall sick. So they protect them with raincoats and umbrellas. Aren’t most people always cautious about stepping out when it’s pouring cats and dogs or taking shelter when caught in a sudden unexpected downpour? So little wonder then that they have never savored a rain shower or reveled in a rain dance. 

I may sound childish to some of you who will scoff at its therapeutic effects. But if you are feeling sad, upset or even angry, JUST DO IT once! Go stand in front of a shower hose, just close your eyes and let the water flow onto you. What you feel then is exactly what you will feel when you dance in the rain.

The only time I have seen adults enjoy the rains are in Hindi films. In fact, most movies are incomplete without a love song where the heroine is thoroughly drenched and having the time of her life. The umbrella becomes an excuse to draw closer to the hero, but soon it flies away, and they are back to being ‘Wet, Wet, Wet’. What an enjoyable way to romance!

Numerous songs have been composed to give expression to the feeling of joy when the monsoons come; Raag Malhar is a ‘classical’ example. 

Poetry and essays have also been written, but my favorite was the ‘Rainy Season’ drawing we did every June when school began. Then there were some cute nursery rhymes we used to recite with gusto like ‘Oh! Where do you come from You little drops of rain?’ and riddles like ‘What goes up when the rain comes down?’

 In college too, we had a special cultural event called MALHAR during the monsoons which was a hair-hanging-down time of fun n-frolic that all of us looked forward to and thoroughly enjoyed.

So grab the opportunity this monsoons. Feel the rain on your skin, revel in its feather-light caresses on your soul and experience God’s Love in the life-giving waters that spring from His heart to yours! (864 words)