By Uma Purkayastha
—-“Earth, be glad! An April day is born” ! – Charles George Douglas
Why has April always been welcomed by poets and philosophers? That’s because the month of April is accompanied by rain. After several months of bitter cold and dry weather, April brings forth soothing showers that quench the parched grounds.
Welcoming rains in the month of April, (Bengali month of ‘Vaishakh’) the great Poet and Laureate Rabindranath Tagore exclaimed:-
‘My heart dances today, dances like a peacock ——
The rain rushes in.
The new stalks of rice quiver’…..
Simultaneously we hear from Annette Wynne:-
‘Rain, rain, April rain,
Washing tree and window pane,
Tapping every spot of ground,
Lest some sleepy seed be found’;
Thus, April is received with gratitude around the world for the showers of change along with it.
The rhythmic sound of rain has a deep soothing effect on our mind, reducing agonies of the mind and heart. It somehow tranquilises our restless minds and brings sleep to insomniacs even. The pitter-patter of the rainfall on the tin sheds/roofs of age-old houses in Shillong fills people’s hearts with warmth and nostalgia, and reminds them of the sweet and sad bygone days. Those from the farming communities are overjoyed with the advent of rain, and dream of better days!
Residing in the ‘Abode of Clouds’ we, the inhabitants of Shillong, are often found to be weary of the rains since it’s an all-year-round phenomenon. There are mainly two seasons in Shillong – the monsoons and winter. Both the seasons override the climate of Shillong leaving almost little to no space for autumn and spring. The rainy season thus dominates the weather charts which finds its place even in the winter, without any notice. Quite naturally then, people sometimes grow tired of the rains and even find themselves frustrated by it. It is only from December–January until March that there is no rain. Plants and trees wither in want of rain, the air becomes dusty, and people witness water scarcity. It is during the prolonged winter drought that everybody prays for rains; and ultimately the wait for April showers brings with it a sense of relief.
Shillong being a multilingual, multi-religious and cosmopolitan society, with a pluralist outlook observes colourful festivals throughout the year.
With the advent of April, Shillong readily takes to its festive spirit. It is the month of ‘Holy Easter’, ‘Rongali Bihu’, ‘Navabarsha’, ‘Shad Suk Mynsiem’, ‘Ram Navami’ ‘Hanuman Jayanti’, ‘Ramzan’ and many other festivals of different communities of people, though ‘Ramzan’ was over earlier this year. The April based festivals are mainly prayers to the gods for bounteous harvest, good health and universal welfare. These festivals are accompanied by dance, music, and orchestra, where people gather irrespective of caste, creed or religion to enjoy with oneness of mind.
Multi-religious festival
s bring a vital recreation among people living in a multicultural society. Life would be completely dull and colourless without such festivals. Since times immemorial, festivals have been observed by different communities in their unique fashion; but the essence of each festival is merriment and recreation. Shillong, with its multiethnic fabric, where different religions, communities and tribes thrive proudly showcasing their culture, one can be familiar with the customs and traditions of other communities which is educational and brings a feeling of oneness. Hence, cultural diversity is the source of union, concord and harmony among different communities.
So, welcome April and pray for bountiful showers to soothe the arid lands, to make vegetation lush, well fruited and full of harvests.
In this auspicious month, let’s also strive towards the popular saying – ‘Jad Bhadrang Tanna Subo’ i.e. whatever is good and fair for the universe be showered upon all.