20 reasons to love the monsoon

Soon dark clouds will come scudding across the horizon, the rains will arrive and the searing summer will have ended. Scroll down, To see why the rainy season is to be celebrated!

Watching the monsoon clouds come rolling over the horizon is a particularly fascinating sight in seaside destinations – which is why West Bengal is a great place to begin chasing the monsoon.

 There’s something about the brooding nature of grey clouds as they gather on the horizon. They can be a little melancholic, sure, but they also hold the promise of rain, cooler weather and the beginning of a new season which the parched earth awaits.

Who doesn’t love the feeling of a gentle shower of rain on the face on a hot day. As the summer draws close, making way for the rains, light drizzles and showers arrive, signalling the oncoming monsoon.

Whether it’s slum children jumping into a gushing canal or toddlers in a school sloshing in a pool of water, the rains bring joy to children everywhere. And watching them is a special pleasure, too.

When the monsoon begins, the bhutta sellers get busy on beach fronts and in every street corner. Buy one, roasted over coal and rubbed over with salt, chilli and lime juice. Scrumptious!

The monsoon also means the biggest sound and light show in the sky.

There’s something utterly thrilling about lying in bed and watching the silver flashes across the sky through an open window and waiting for the roll of thunder that follows.

When it rains it should pour. And you should be tucked away in a warm place, watching the heavens open up and the rains fall in sheets. In places that are in the path of the monsoon, downpours can last for hour or even days, and yet few people complain.

When the rains really lash down, those who care about the earth feel good that the soil is being nourished and replenished, that new life will spring forth from the rain-watered earth.

For city-dwellers, the pleasures of the monsoon are different from those of farmers and villagers. It’s a respite from the heat and dust of summer and washes away grime as well.

Whether children or adults, there’s no denying the excitement of spotting a rainbow and wondering whether there really is a pot of gold at the end of it.

Even meadows and green slopes take on a spectacular green colour after a heavy shower; a sight you’ll see if you drive even a short distance out of the city in the rainy season.

Don’t you just love walking in the rain, with or without an umbrella? There’s something so refreshing and invigorating about stepping outdoors in the rain and feeling the cool winds and the gentle showers.

Getting wet in the rain sure takes us back to childhood and innocence – which is why it seems like so much fun, no matter what our age.

As kids we may not have been particularly fond of the plastic Mickey Mouse raincoat that made us steam inside. But a stylish raincoat is a great way to make a statement in the wet season.

There’s something about the rain that whets the appetite. And we begin craving hot, spicy, crisp, deep-fried things. All over the country, there are different takes on bhajia, pakoras and bondas that are much loved as rainy season food.

Seek shelter from a shower at a roadside shop and tuck into the simple pleasure of a plate of fried pakoras. Few things are as satisfying. And don’t count calories.

The childish pleasure of sailing paper boats is summed up so well in R.L Stevenson’s children’s poem, ‘Where go the boats’. Remember that one?

What are rain puddles there for, but to jump in and slosh about with abandon? And it’s not just something children enjoy either.

To spice things up some more, you should drink masala chai or tea brewed with ginger, which will also protect you against rain-induced illnesses.

The rains are meant for romance. Think of all the romantic film numbers set in the rain – from ‘Pyar Hua Iqrar Hua’ in ‘Shree 420’ to ‘Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein’ in ‘Ajnabee’.

Tourists flock to the state of sun and sand in winter. But Goa has a charm all its own in the rains. Yes, the beaches are deserted, but also fascinating, as you watch the rain-bearing clouds roll in.

What’s more, the paddy fields and the gardens all turn emerald green, with church spires gleaming white here and there. Goa in the rains is a must-do activity for the traveller who wants to veer off the beaten path.

Courtesy by: msn.com