The Dance of Sun and Rain

Navigating South Indian Summer, Mango Showers, and the Earth's Rebirth in Chennai and Ottapalam

The South Indian summer is an experience. It's not just a season; it's a force of nature, a crucible in which the land and its people are tested. Before the relief of the monsoon, places like Chennai, a bustling metropolis on the Bay of Bengal, and Ottapalam, a tranquil town nestled in the Palakkad district of Kerala, endure a period of intense heat. The landscape, often vibrant and lush, becomes parched and dusty. The sun, a relentless overseer, beats down with an almost tangible weight. In this challenging environment, life finds a way, waiting patiently for the first whispers of change – the arrival of the mango showers.

Chennai: The Urban Heat Island and the Anticipation of Relief

Chennai, a coastal city, experiences a unique blend of heat and humidity. The urban sprawl, with its concrete jungle, contributes to the "heat island effect," making the summer months particularly challenging. The temperature climbs steadily, often reaching into the high 30s and sometimes even the early 40s (Celsius). The heat reflects off the paved roads and buildings, creating a suffocating environment. The sea breeze, usually a saving grace, often feels like a hot breath, offering little respite.

During this period, life in Chennai slows down. People seek refuge in the shade, consuming copious amounts of cool drinks and spending time indoors with air conditioning. The usual hustle and bustle of the city seems muted, replaced by an almost palpable sense of waiting. Everyone knows that the relentless heat cannot last forever; it's a shared experience of endurance. Conversations often revolve around the approaching monsoon and the hopeful whispers of the first mango showers.

Ottapalam: The Quiet Strength of Rural Endurance

In contrast, Ottapalam presents a different picture. This small town, surrounded by paddy fields and lush greenery, experiences the heat in a more rural setting. The landscape, while parched, still retains its beauty. The air is drier compared to Chennai, but the heat is just as intense. Here, life revolves around agriculture. Farmers and their families work tirelessly through the summer, tending to their fields and livestock. The heat is an obstacle, but it is also a fact of life, something they've adapted to over generations. They know that the dry spell is essential to the cycle of cultivation, and they wait, with stoic patience, for the life-giving rain.

The mango trees, ubiquitous in this part of Kerala, are heavily laden with fruit. They’re also the heralds of change. It is the arrival of these early rains, often referred to as ‘Mango Showers,’ that signifies the end of the peak summer. The name comes from the fact that this pre-monsoon rainfall often helps in the ripening of the mangoes, a delicious signifier that the intense summer is coming to a close.

The Transformation: The Arrival of the Mango Showers

Then comes the change. Not with gradual shift, but with a dramatic flair. The sky, once a clear, pale blue, begins to darken. Heavy clouds gather, their bellies swollen with moisture. There's a hush that falls over the landscape, a pregnant silence before the storm. The air, heavy with humidity, now carries the promise of rain. The wind picks up, rustling the dry leaves and sending shivers down the branches of the trees.

The first drops are large and hesitant, leaving dark spots on the dusty earth. Then, the heavens open. The rain comes down in torrents, a symphony of sound that fills the air. The parched soil, thirsty for months, drinks deep, releasing the aroma of wet earth – petrichor. This is a fragrance so deeply embedded in the memory of those who have experienced it, a perfume of renewal and life.

The transformation that follows is nothing short of miraculous. In Chennai, the city streets are cleansed, and the air is noticeably fresher. The greenery in gardens and parks seems to spring back to life. In Ottapalam, the dry paddy fields transform into verdant expanses of green. The water collects in small streams and ponds, reflecting the sky above. The earth, once cracked and dry, becomes soft and fertile. The landscape, revitalized by the rain, takes on a vibrancy that is almost intoxicating.

A Time of Renewal: The Impact of the Rainfall

The mango showers are more than just a weather phenomenon; they’re a vital part of the South Indian ecosystem. The rain not only rejuvenates the landscape but also cleanses the air, washing away the dust and pollutants that have accumulated over the summer months. It recharges groundwater sources, ensuring that there is enough water for agriculture and daily life.

For the people of both Chennai and Ottapalam, the mango showers are a time of celebration and relief. In Ottapalam, it marks the beginning of the planting season. Farmers can finally begin sowing their seeds, nurturing the crops that will sustain them through the coming months. In Chennai, the rain brings respite from the oppressive heat, restoring a sense of normalcy to daily life.

Children take to the streets, splashing in puddles and reveling in the rain. The air is filled with the joyful sounds of laughter and play. It’s a time of community, a shared experience of relief that brings people closer together. The mangoes, ripened by the early rains, are a delicacy to be savored, a sweet reminder that the earth, despite its trials, continues to give life and sustenance.

A Tapestry of Life: The Significance of the Mango Showers

The South Indian summer, with its scorching heat and the eventual relief of the mango showers, is a testament to the cyclical nature of life. It's a dance between sun and rain, heat and coolness, dryness and moisture. The mango showers are more than just a weather pattern; they are a symbol of hope, a promise of renewal, and a reminder of the earth's incredible resilience.

They highlight the deep connection between people and their environment. The farmers of Ottapalam, the urban dwellers of Chennai – all are intertwined with the rhythms of the seasons, understanding the importance of these first rains, these mango showers, in the grand tapestry of life. It's a beautiful reminder that even after periods of intense heat, life will always find a way to blossom, to flourish, and to be reborn. The transformation is not just a change in the landscape; it's a change in the soul of the region, a deep sigh of relief, a return to life, renewed and refreshed.  ( Created by Gemini AI Studio)

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Walkthrough how to create a blog

 Today after a long time, started conversation on Blogging.....

https://www.nature.com/

☝💔
Whatsapp, Facebook and other social media apps killed Blog and its charm.

Long time no blog post

Due to the advent of Whatsapp and Twitter, I could not post any blog article. It may be due to my laziness; Still I like blog very much as it gives deep insight to any subject, and at any point of time the articles can be retrived and referred.

I don't know if people are still blogging as earlier days... Hope atleast in 2020 in this new year I should pen some blog articles and publish.

wishing you all a Happy New Year 2020.

warm regards,

Your comments please

This picture was taken at Madiwala lake, the morning calmness and the serinity, a lone boat tied to the shores and the rippling water, and marching cirrus clouds, and clear surfy blue skies,  adding value to the click. Agree? Solitary reaper !!!

Awaiting for the good monsoon rains 2019

The year 2017 is definately a good year for Bangalore as it received excess rainfall, however in 2018 the monsoon was sluggish and not had enough good rainfall, this year in 2019, till this date Bangalore did not had even a single meaningful rainfall, and the city is heading for water scarcity if it did not rain the coming days. About the above Pic, one of my favourite - Development of thundercloud during 2017 and the typical rainshaft which gave an impression of formation of mini twister.. 

The Great SW monsoon 2017

It's a great news !! 

Ahead of the schedule the Great South West Monsoon has touched the Southern Kerala today.

IMD has made the official announcement of the arrival of the Indian Monsoon into the peninsular India.

However, there is a cyclone named Mora hits Bengladesh and which incidentally facilitates pulling the moisture to NE India two days in advance.

After hitting the southern tip Kerala, the journey of monsoon, slowly and steadily over north and north east, giving the Country the much needed rains. 

The monsoon will cover the whole of India within 40 to 60 days.
As India is predominantly an agricultural country, the monsoon rains are the life line of the country.

A healthy monsoon will boost the economy of the country. 

It is delightful to be in Kerala during monsoon, there are various tourism packages available to enjoy the monsoon, such as stay at Backwaters, tree houses, house boats, hillstations and ayurveda.

There are rich destinations to enjoy the monsoon at Kerala such as Allappuzha, Kumarakom, Munnar, Wayanad to name a few. 

There are few fabulous locations in Karnataka too to enjoy the monsoon. Agumbe is worth visiting, as it receives heaviest rainfall in the South.. It is called Cherrapunji of the South.

If you want to enjoy the pounding, pouring non stop rain.. then visit the world heaviest rainfall region- Cherrapunji- in Meghalaya.. it is located in the North Eastern region of India. Cherrapunji is one of the westtest places on the earth.

article for reading

worth reading...




http://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/X3uvXrojiRaPr31fhf6IQI/The-mysteries-of-Bengalurus-famed-Gavi-Gangadhareshwara-tem.html

Our friendly Squirrels...

When I was young, I used to enjoy watching joyful Squirrels around in Chennai.. 

Some sneak into homes and make nests and would starts breeding, to our surprise all of a sudden we could see little Squirrels lost its way and comes to the halls searching for its way to its nest... 

We could hear the loud alarm cry that sounds like "chip chip chip" by its mother... and we used to help the little one to unite with its mother.. Out of our curiosity and enthusisam we used to try to feed it but in vain... 

This kind of experience you might also have been faced.

I stay in  Marathahalli, Bangalore, When I came there around two years back, I could rarely find Squirrels.. 

Just adjacent to our apartments, there is a vacant plot, sort of mini-juncle with full of eucalyptus trees... I initially wonder where all those squirrels gone??? 

I could spot birds of prey, rodents, giant rats, pigeons, Snakes in that mini-jungle. 

However, around one year back, I could hear the sweet sound of Squirrels, and could spot few around in the fence and wall, and gradually it started coming to our apartments and will run around the balcony...

I started feeding the Squirrels by placing nuts, fruits in the fencing wall and the they also readily accepted the feed.. Normally, I used to feed them in the early hours 6.30 to 7.00 am and I could sense that thay are awaiting for my feed... Over a period of time, I could see, many squirrels in the mini-jungle and now we could happly hear the loud chip-chip-chip sounds in the morning, as a wake-up alarm call...  

I was happy that some way or other involved in nature and conservation of this little species!!!

reading between words

cute isnt

Kula Deivam temple

Village Theru thiruviya

Temple car festivals are unique as they imbibe a sense of togetherness of the village community, making the culture alive and overall a sense of anticipation, excitement, devotion and all the above sense of fulfilment, on the last day,  once the Car function sucessfully ends after 10 days of different idols procession with the participation of volenteers..


Some pictures of Sri Venkatachalapathy temple, car festival at Nellicherry village Palakkad. I had the blessings and privilege to partake and participate in the recently concluded Theru thiruviya!!!

oh.. Looking for Showers....

This pic clicked on 24th April 2016.. the Scorching heat continues and no heavy rain for the past one month, this is quite unusual... As last year between 22-24  April 2015, If my memory is correct it rained in the evenings, and on this period there were sporodic hailstorms in Bangalore in 2015, and it rained very heavily with hailstorm in Marathahalli and due to squall all the telephone lines and electricity was disrupted for two days... but this year 2016, no rain and heat waves continues.. and we are awaiting for the first rains...

awaiting for the smell of rain...

This year 2016, Bangalore is witnessing one of the harshest Summer... probably beating all the records as in many days in this April it crossed 35deg C mark. Also unlike normal Bangalore weather, as it used to be, whenever temperature increases, it used to rain in the evening. I heard from Old Bangalorites, in Pre 1990's it used to rain almost daily in the evenings in Summer. Bangalore is called the Pensioners Paradise and Garden City !!!

One of the beautify city in India and I remember when I was young, we used to consider Bangalore as a cool place to pamper during School Summer holidays... Bangalore in my mind is comparable to hillstations and colonial style building and landscape and weather like Ooty, Kodaikanal...

However till 1995 it was nice and cool, once the Y2K problem and the opportunity it posed, the development of IT Sector industry begun to descent in Bangalore, and things starts changing.. 

For employment purpose, Bangalore developed rapidly, people from all parts of India start coming to Bangalore for a better Career, many MNC companies, particulary IT starts opening their centres in Bangalore, and quickly bangalore become Cyper city and window of opportunities and talented manpower makes Bangalore one of the fastest developing city in India.. Apart for IT, Business process outsourcing industry, KPOs, LPOs, and many MNC R&D centres starts operations in Bangalore. 

The main reasons attributes initially was the advantage of fabulous, meditarian type of climatic conditions... Cloudy skies, average temperature, round the year rain, moderate cold and one of the few cities in India which have all the four+1 seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer, Rainy , and autumn. As Bangalore used to have rain almost round the year. It used to get

Jan- March- Mango showers,

April -June- Premonsoon showers, 

July - Oct- South west monsoon rains,

Nov-Dec- North East monsoon rains.

Bangalore was called Lake City, In the 1960s the number of tanks and lakes was 280 and less than 80 in 1993. However, now it is having on 17 good lakes., rest all encroached and building and high rises filled the lakes.Most of the lakes have vanished due to encroachment and construction activity for urban infrastructure expansion.

 Also the city's green cover has been cleared for development and rapid urbanization. According to a research study the Green cover in Bangalore has decreased by 66 per cent and water bodies by 74 per cent in the last 40 years. The mindless cutting down of trees for construction of building has reduced green cover with has serious implications for the city’s environmental and ecological health.

It appears Bangalore has crossed the threshold of urbanization, which is evident from a range of psychological, social and health impacts on residents including dramatic increase in obesity, asthma, traffic problems, road accidents etc. As per the experts opinion a city must maintain at least 33 per cent green cover to maintain ecological balance. 

It is time to wake-up, this year 2016, Summer has shown to us, that Bangalore is no more "Old Bangalore" and for the first time in history Bangalore has crossed 40 deg C this summer and entered into the 40C club. This is not a good sign., 

All citizens and NGOs should educate the common people and the admistrators to plant more trees, to increase green cover and to preserve the existing lakes and the gardens...but it is too late..as there is no space in the city for traffic and where can they plant trees!!??

But let us be Optimistic, as they say, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER...

writing this, looking forward to have the first real Summer Showers at Bangalore.. will post when it rains....

Cherry Blossom April 2016

It is cherry Blossom season at Bangalore... flowering season, with birds, insects, squirrels busy with bussing activities around the flowers., very interesting to watch...

cat on the wall

Today afternoon near HAL Veg market, I saw this cat having siesta in the afternoon, on the wall, a cool and shady place under a big tree. It was blissfully sleeping, when  I tried to click the Cat opened its eyes and posed for my mobile.

Temple visit

One of my wish is to visit, Meenkulathi Amman Temple, Located near Palakkad. The Meenkulathi Temple is located in Pallassena, a village in southern India. I took an auto from Palakkad and reached the temple. It is around 25kms from  Palakkad. The route to the temple is fabulous, green paddy fields, greenery, natural reserves, forest kind of landscapes, water bodies, channels and hills around.
On reaching the temple, there were many devotees from Tamil nadu as well as Kerala. The temple tank is magnificent. Herewith posting some pictures. The village ambience during the travel and the serene and green rural environment and the divine feel after visiting the temple is unforgettable...

Kabini - pride of India

Visited Kabini River Lodge this weekend (23 & 24th Jan 2016) and I can say, it is one of the best in India.   Kabini is a visual treat, a pradise for nature lovers, and it is a place one can find wild animals face to face... Sambars, Elephants, Gaurs, wild boars, leopards, tigers, spotted deers, and many more. Birds are plenty...The resorvoir is surrounded by Bandipur, Nagarhole, Mudhumalai and this Kabini is one of the last protected habitats for endangered species like Elephants and Tigers, I pray and would like to see this place as prestine as now in future also, so that our next generations can see the wild animals in their natural surroundings..

Also the Kabini River Lodge is one of the best maintained Resorts, though out of reach of common man, the location and the service is unparallel. Particularly for Bird Watchers, this resorts is a heaven.. Some of the birds are Magpie Robin,  Crow Pheasant, Coppersmith Barbet, White-Cheeked Barbet, Koel,  Red-whiskered Bulbul, Brahminy Kite, White-browed wagtail, Little Egret, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Little Cormorant, Large  Cormorant are easy sight. Many varities of butterfiles, big bats.. Inside the Lodge one tree holds more than thousand of Indian Flying fox.. we could spot many mongoose and otters in the side banks...

Some sample pictures..