Pyaar hua ikraar hua- the iconic rain song from Shree 420So, they’ve finally arrived. The fact that the monsoons are closely synonymous with our lives is the reason for the rains featuring almost ceremoniously in every Hindi film worth its salt. The very mention of the rains fetches memories of a wet-to-the-bone Raj Kapoor dancing below staged monsoons with an equally- drenched Nargis crooning Pyaar Hua Ikraar Hua in Shree 420; or the same duo singing Barsaat Mein Humse Mile in Barsaat or then, a wet Kajol dancing as she lip-syncs notes of Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. And then, there’re more sober filmy numbers like Allah Megh De Paani De denoting the Indian’s proclivity to rain-dances or ceremonies to usher in the monsoons at times of delay.
In India, synonymous with the monsoons is romance which literally blooms in this much-awaited season. It’s also the best time to consume hot bhuttas by the roadside sheltered by the rains under an umbrella; hot bhajias and the good ol’ chai. It’s the right time to make a beeline for the nearest monsoon hotspot along the Western coastline: The backwaters of Kerala, the beaches of Goa or the hill-stations of Maharashtra.
Aishwarya Rai dancing to Barso re mehga in GuruThe pleasant monsoon winds
Like nature, the monsoons too don’t discriminate. The South Westerlies move with a sense of ownership without any prejudice throughout the western coast in early June after an entry in lush-green Kerala. And, as the rains hurtle their way through the entire western stretch of India, accompanied with thunder and lightning all along the coast, the summer temperatures begin to backtrack to bearable levels.
Raag Malhar has been synonymous with India and its rains since eons. The legendary Tansen was known to have the ability to sway nature his way each time he performed. Raag Malhar, among several others, is said to fetch the monsoons each time it is performed. The more-recent rendition of Raag Malhar was Aamir Khan’s Lagaan number Ghanan Ghanan where a village’s prospects are shown depending entirely on the monsoons.
Till date, India’s extended summer gets so tortuous towards April and May that it sparks off heat waves that kill thousands in the northern belt of India each year. It isn’t of much surprise hence to find the rains being greeted with overwhelming joy and gratitude every year. In most of rural India, fortunes of masses and their very lives pivot around the annual rains where the first showers are met with religious ceremonies of gratitude and celebrations of sorts.
Monsoons integral to life in India
They aren’t any ordinary downpour, the monsoons in India: Nowhere else does a season matter so much to a country’ prospects. Where else do you find 70 per cent of a nation’s citizens’ work prospects affected directly by the monsoons? Here, the rains’ delay sends millions of farmers into a dismal spiralling quandary of debt, disaster, even suicides.
They aren’t the usual unfeeling sheets of showers “reducing driver visibility causing slow vehicular movement sometimes to a halt” as in the United States or simply “spreading a damp, dreary grey cover over the entire city sending most trotting off to the nearest pub for a shot or two of good ol’ whiskey,” as in the monsoon-familiar England. Our baarish means a lot more to us than just that occasional outbreak. It sparks off a familiar tune in our hearts; fetches a leap in our steps; a song on our lips; a feeling of warmth and concern towards the damp next-door tramp.
This time of the year, the sweltering heat has masses of land dried up for yards deep within registering cracks gaping for the first drops of rain; drooping leaves of swiftly-dying plants having turned a shade of pale yellow in desperate anticipation of water. Here, any delay in the monsoons bears immediate repercussions on the health of the economy and its people.
No other season stirs the senses as potently as the monsoons. The aroma of freshly damp earth wet from the rains; the sounds of twittering crickets, chirping sparrows and the reclusive koel, the eardrum- shattering clap of thunder; sights of the rainbow reaching out beyond the distant hills or wet ‘n’ well scrubbed look on Mumbai’s colossal archaic residential zones; office-goers scurrying for cover under their brief-cases held atop for protection, the endearing sight of a young couple cuddling up together below an umbrella; the stirring picture of a street urchin seeking cover under a stern policeman’s umbrella.
Options to shop open up
It’s welcome for shoppers! And, why not, considering that the rains provide a perfect excuse to indulge in that annual shop-till-you-drop spree! Raincoats, umbrellas, windcheaters, gumboots, sandals, tinted rain-protective glasses; the list of monsoon must-buys seems endless!
For most of us, umbrellas are almost synonymous with monsoons. Gone are the days of the huge, rather unattractive, black, ‘grandfather’ umbrellas. Today, they come in all shapes, sizes, designs and textures, doubling up as one’s personal style statement.
To buy umbrellas, Imamwada Road in Mumbai’s Bhendi Bazaar is the place to visit for “cheap and tikau umbrellas” from the city’s most renowned umbrella- makers.
Most shops in Mumbai have an enviable line-up of loyal customers who come year after year before the monsoons arrive. There is a wide variety of umbrellas available today that come in various shapes, sizes and prints at most competitive prices.
The monsoon essentials
Umbrellas have definitely come of age. Bright prints seem to be the mantra this season! If you do manage to procure an umbrella with bright prints, it’s sure to be a hit. And, the best part is that you can adorn that chic look without causing much of a dent in your pocket.
Consider men’s umbrellas, for instance. One can buy black jumbo strong and sturdy umbrellas – either with or without the silver coating inside. Besides, there’re the popular two-fold and three-fold umbrellas too – printed, coloured, black, coated from inside, you-name-it.
When it comes to raincoats now being produced in various colours and designs, you have a whole range of choices.You could go in for the current favourite – transparent raincoats. They look as frail as polythene and have a strong zipper that runs down the entire length of the raincoat. One can complement the transparent raincoat by wearing really colourful clothes under it, adding that extra punch to your look. And then, raincoats with belts are a rage too.
Most people tend to rather negligent about the maintenance of raincoats, cutting short their shelf life. Before airing the raincoat, one needs to hang them in air and clean them properly. Damp raincoats, when not kept properly, are known to develop damp moulds that are known to cause skin infections too.
That apart, you need to buy a neat carry-bag to help carry the raincoat around with you wherever you go during the monsoon. That way, you’ll never be caught unawares; you’ll always be prepared for the showers.
Wearing the right pair
Footwear is another important area to be considered vis-à-vis monsoon buys. Gum-boots are hot buys once again! Not only do they look cool, they’re sure to bail you out in water-logged situations that are rather common in the city. While black, ankle-length gum boots go well generally with three-fourths, skirts and cotton casuals, if you’re the adventurous type, you could go in for coloured gum-boots too. They’re awesome!
If it’s difficult to choose a colour, it’s best to go in for the boots that match with your coat. Common sense demands that whites and other lighter shades are best avoided during the rains. And, the same goes for leather boots and high-heeled footwear equally avoidable during the rains.