It’s that time of the year again when there’s this distinct smell of freshly blooming plumeria in the Delhi air. Like each year it’s a very romantic indicator that the pink weather is around the corner. I call it the pink weather because everything takes on a rosy hue, from cheeks of little people, scarves around pretty necks to the numerous flowery blossoms all around the city.
This is also the time when the humid air of September takes on a drier undertone and people are seen outdoors more often with an air of slight abandon. I agree, people from Mumbai or parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu may have seen a severe version of the typically humid monsoon in India, but Delhi also has it’s not so fair share of the sticky, balmy, breathless weather. And as soon as the October winds bring along a welcome relief, Delhites sway with joy in apprehension of the ‘party season’ ahead.
Even with the younger generations not paying much heed to traditional change of season rituals, Delhi still has a measurable populace of those who do keep the traditions of old times close to their heart and home. For them the fifteen day period after Ganesh utsav is ‘Shraadh’, the days when you honour and remember the dear departed. This is also a period when the more ritualistic would not indulge in shopping of any kind. This in turn gives momentum to the pre bookings for all type of latest gadgets and cars, homes and jewellery and everything else out for sale in the lineup of festivities that get delivered during the Navratri or by Diwali. The 20 day period between Dussehra and Diwali is a period of frenzied activity, when gifts have to be carefully selected, wrapped and delivered to the various groups of friends, colleagues, relatives and family members.
All these activities are enough to make you feel all celebratory and in a lively mood. After Diwali comes the wedding season followed by the year end revelry of New Year’s Eve parties and the actual celebration of the start of a new calendar year. During all this time people keep on meeting others whom they might not have had the time to catch up with in the otherwise busy rest of the year. These get-togethers, catch ups and meetings are a very fulfilling experience in terms of emotions that are felt, feelings shared, memories relived and promises made. They fill up a person with hope of better times and things to live up to.
It is very difficult to pinpoint the connection between this beautiful turn of season and the festivity which automatically finds its way into the air, but one thing is for sure, there is a feel good factor all around and people are generally happier at this time of the year. It is the right time to start that exercise session that you have been pushing ahead so that you are at your fittest best for the upcoming parties. This also is a time to reflect upon your blessings and consider being a Good Samaritan for those less fortunate. This might just be the time to go out and have some fun.
8 Sept. 2016
Team Rapid