Rain Rain come again

 One need not say that in “God’s Own Country” where the almighty has truly blessed the state with abundant rainfall. Still it is a pleasure to visit Kerala in the monsoon and you wish the rain never stops. The dark overcast skies waiting to burst with rain, the moist atmosphere. People in Kerala are perfectly adapted to the sudden unwarned spells of heavy rain that lash the state during the month of Karkidaka. Armed with a large Umbrella, they go about with their usual business whether it is rain or shine. The malayalam month of Karkidaka which normally falls between mid-July and mid-August of the Gregorian calender is a month of great significance religiously and socially. Personally this is one of my favorite months in the Malayalam calendar as my birthday falls on this month but there are other special features too this month. Usually in this month heavy rains occur in the state. In this month women and men of many households read the Ramayana as its believed that Valmiki completed the epic during this month and this tradition is also used to bring courage to sustain during difficult times such as period of heavy rains and nature’s fury. As such this month is very auspicious and special pooja’s are conducted for the godess Devi aka Bhagvathy. I remember Bhagvad seva a pooja deicated for the godess performed every year at my home during this month. And as my birthday falls in this month, usually it is during my birth star Bharani day this pooja used to be performed at dusk. But as such any day in this month is very auspicious for the Bhagad seva pooja. This is also the month when Karkidaka vavu, i.e, new moon day in the month of Karkidaga is observed when we perform pitru bali ritual for all the dead family members. It is said that this day we can do this ritual for all the forefathers irrespective of the star in which they had passed away. Normally Shradam is done each year for the deceased family member at the malayalm month and the star of the day they died. So this day can be used to remember all the deceased members of the family and do the bali, make some of the favorite food and offer them in order to keep their souls contended. I do reliase and appreciate this tradition more than ever now as members of my immedite family my grandmother and father, whom I have been with as I grew up are no more. What better day to remember them and pray for their souls. Not only fo religious significance, this month is best suited for all ayurvedic treatments and it is believed that recovery of all ailments occur quicker when it is done in this month. The mosoon at its peak in kerala promotes the effectiveness of the ayurvedic treatment. Also during olden days many herbs used to be available for the ayurvedic medicines only during the monsoon. Hence this is perfect time to get all those aches and pains to rest. It is said that normally Karkidaka Pani (Fever during the Karkidaga) is a norm as many people get affected with the common cold and fever during the monsoon season. Special food and ayurvedic remedies are your best bet to treat the fever. There is a karkidaka kanni (gruel) specially perpared with herbs consumed by many during this month promotes immunity which is most needed when the weather goes haywire. I had an opportunity to vist Kerala during this monsoon and I truly enjoyed the scenic pituresque greenery. I only wished I had a better camera to capture all the beauty, but yes it is captured in the most complex camera in the world – from my eyes through my mind and that will remain as long as I live. And the rains oh it never did stop at times it was like someone is pouring water from the heaven. Oh how I wish I can come again to enjoy this seemingly endless rain….