It finally rained in Goa today - and cats and dogs too! We'd seen it coming for some time now. Over the past few days, the sky was often cloudy and there were some pre monsoon showers. Initially we were all gay about it, but the Rain Gods are cruel and they know how to make you beg. If there's something worse than the sun's heat, it's humidity. And although the clouds might make it less sunny, all that humidity in the air makes you feel really stuffy and uncomfortable.
But there was something different in the air today. It was rather pleasant. There was a cool wind as I watered my plants in the afternoon and by the evening there were huge rain clouds in the sky - all around, as far as you could see them. And the strange thing about rain clouds is that you can't see them separately. They are like a genie in the sky - dark and strong, dangerous and not merciful.
The winds howl through cracks in your house and there's thunderous applause from the heavens above. The dead leaves outside rise again and dance around in circles - joyous to see the spectacle unfold before them. And the sweet smell of the parched earth which spreads around you adds a solemn feeling to the whole ceremony. Oh welcome our mighty saviour - the Monsoons are here!
Humans are not the only species which enjoy the arrival of the monsoons. There are a lot of others too. I'm hoping to see some peacocks around my house soon. :)
But this post is about the frogs. On my drive back home, I saw a lot of frogs leaping all over the place - in the veranda, in the garden, on the road, all over. Must be a happy moment in their lives too I thought. Unlike the peacocks, since they have little to show off by the way of dancing, they like singing. Well, they croak really. You can't expect much more from such ugly looking creatures :P
Male frogs generally croak during the rainy season to attract female frogs or to mark thier territory against other male frogs. I'm sure some of them got lucky today and went leaping around to tell their friends. :D
But there was something different in the air today. It was rather pleasant. There was a cool wind as I watered my plants in the afternoon and by the evening there were huge rain clouds in the sky - all around, as far as you could see them. And the strange thing about rain clouds is that you can't see them separately. They are like a genie in the sky - dark and strong, dangerous and not merciful.
The winds howl through cracks in your house and there's thunderous applause from the heavens above. The dead leaves outside rise again and dance around in circles - joyous to see the spectacle unfold before them. And the sweet smell of the parched earth which spreads around you adds a solemn feeling to the whole ceremony. Oh welcome our mighty saviour - the Monsoons are here!
Humans are not the only species which enjoy the arrival of the monsoons. There are a lot of others too. I'm hoping to see some peacocks around my house soon. :)
But this post is about the frogs. On my drive back home, I saw a lot of frogs leaping all over the place - in the veranda, in the garden, on the road, all over. Must be a happy moment in their lives too I thought. Unlike the peacocks, since they have little to show off by the way of dancing, they like singing. Well, they croak really. You can't expect much more from such ugly looking creatures :P
Male frogs generally croak during the rainy season to attract female frogs or to mark thier territory against other male frogs. I'm sure some of them got lucky today and went leaping around to tell their friends. :D
froggy
ReplyDeleteVery well written..thats obvious, since its YOU!!
ReplyDeleteIt starts with the happy first rains where you notice all the little things like frogs, clouds and the peacocks(seriously?? you saw peacocks in goa??where?). But by the end of the season, you would be like "somebody please stop these rains or kill these frogs"..Funny goan rains man!
@tiger Haha. Apparently male frogs hump anything hoping to find females. That's where the slang 'froggy' comes from. :)
ReplyDelete@kekda Yeah dude I know too much of anything can be bad. But it's always good when it starts. :)
You can see peacocks near my house in Zuarinagar. It's a forested area and they come out during the monsoons and dance. Interesting spectacle. :)
Nice read :)
ReplyDeleteReminded me of "frog and the nightingale" by vikram seth :D **Once upon a time a frog
ReplyDeleteCroaked away in Bingle Bog **
Nice one..:) I wonder what will happen if it doesnt rain for a looong time (i.e. they wont be attract the females for their pleasure time!).. ;)
ReplyDeleteAah!I love the rusty smell of earth during rains. In warangal, when it rained softly without much noise, I would first get the smell and realize that its in fact raining...
ReplyDeleteThe post was nostalgic, of assam, of gujarat, of warangal. I think Monsoons is one thing apart from cricket which unites this country.