Rains pouring again...

Thankfully, the rains are here again... After a break of nearly a month, the skies turned all black today and the air, fresh. There are a lot of things going on in my mind, but right now, I just want to enjoy the rainy air...

Back To "Life"

When you are a child, you think less and get hurt and still you are happy.

When you grow up, you keep thinking so much that you just can't enjoy.

So, once in a while, it's required to be a child again...

and that is what I did in these two days. I had an off from work and I've done a lot of things- a lot of silly things... :) I walked for miles, I climbed the hills, chatted with friends, I cooked, I did painting, All the things I wanted to do since days.(or may be, months)

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My Monday Morning began with sweet sounds from the temple nearby my house, it was Ashadhi Ekadashi, a Festival of the Vitthala. Then I saw the school children's Dindi- a sort of sacred procession to the temple. All little boys and girls were dressed in traditional "warkari" clothes, and were singing "Abhangas" I remembered how I used to do the same in my childhood and then I really felt like joining with them. But I had another things to do.

I then went to Tehsil Office, which is on a hill top near station. My friend Tanuja had some work there. We climbed the pavements carved in stones, You know, I was almost in tears to see the little waterfall almost dried up... But, that was supposed to be so, as the rain-gods are gone on a vacation. :(

Anyways, by the time Tanuja was busy with her wok, I had a walk in and around the 103 years old building (we used to call it "Bhutbangala" when we were lilttle kids, and believe me, I still felt it is not much better than a bhut bangala, the clerks and files there are enough to scare me :) ) I explored some amazing things about the structure. Truely, Great stone-work!

Well, when Tanuja was over with the documents, we almost ran down the hill :) I wanted to take a short-cut, which was a straight slope, but Tanu caught my arm, saying, "Hey, we need to go home safely and unhurt" (well, well, my grown-up friend...)

It was such a nice afternoon! I felt why there are not so good songs for a windy, chilled afternoon?

I returned home and soon I was off to Dahivali with Manasi, another friend of mine. We went to the Vitthal Temple over there, and don't know why but I really felt great. Once left from Dahivali, we just kept walking on an outside road- free of traffic and everything. we passed through several villages and kep waliking and talking (well, I was not actually walking. I was, as Manasi said, bouncing on the road- jumping, flying in my own world) You know, at one corner of the road, amongst the green grass, I saw a beautiful flower. white, little, cute but lonely... (Just like me?)

soon we two realised it was getting dark, so we had to come back to the town.

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Today also was a busy morning- a lot of paper-work for bank and all. but afternoon was again a beautiful one. Manasi and me went with Tanuja to help her in admission process.- She's doing MMS from New College in Chandai. believe me, it's such a wonderful place! Green, Green, Green Everywhere... All cool winds, and you know it rained in Karjat today! And we enjoyed that rain on the hill again- Tanuja had some work today as well.

There on the edge of hill, up away from the town, we were standing... we three girls... mesmorized by the nature around... tiny, blinking droplets of rain came head on us... Wind was freezing, but who cares? Just beside the Hill is Karjat Railway station. Trains kept coming and going there.. At a distance below, people were working in the Farm... Over us, clouds were roaring... Noises got together, but what reached to us, was only the music of it...

We three girls... stood there for an hour, looking at the ambiance... I wish I stayed there forever...

Beauty of the Beast- Monsoon as I saw today.

Sometimes, one gets confused, whether to listen to heart or to brain. Well, with me that happens quite often. And most of the times, I go against the call of my heart. (Arrogant Janhavee! Such conceit about herself!)

Today, I did the same and got punished once again. It was raining hard since last evening and Trains were not on schedule (well, when do they? ) It was too gloomy in the morning. I was not at all feeling like going out. But I went and got stranded near Badlapur. (and then had to return home, when I really wanted to go to work.)

Now you'll say, 'what's new about it? people in Mumbai get into such situations quite often.' Yes, they do, but not me. Never befor this year, I got into any problem during the monsoon. But this time, twice it rained hard and twice I suffered. And that was very bad (See I'm still sneezing, God Bless!)

Still, my love for monsoon is unmoved. And so, even in today's deludge I found some beautiful moments. Just wanted to share them with the world. ( okey, okey, over to pictures- I've already typed a lot of words. ;) )

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1.

From the Sinhagad Express- near Badlapur, the visibility was really very low...

2.

That's a stream into the River Ulhas...

3.

And the Overflowing River Ulhas- at her full force...

4.

Can you spot Mountains in these pictures? They are somewhere near the horizon...

5.

That's Matheran Hills surrounded by clouds

6.

Somewhere in these clouds is the famous Ashane-Koshane Waterfalls (at Bhivpuri Rd., Near Karjat) can't spot it at all, such was the downpour

7.

That's me in the train- tired because of all the mayhem yet happy to be with the nature . I was shievering with cold still standing in the wind, height of Monsoon madness.

(In the back-drop are hills outside Karjat, which are obiviously lost somewhere in the clouds! )

8.

And Finally, when the skies opened up.... lights and darkness, scenery and machines- the Monsoon at it's best...

It's just the start of July, Monsoon is going to stay. and I'm going to enjoy... But got to go now, need a lot of rest.

Time to 'Green'

The dust is washed away by the rain... And everything has turned green again...
The sky has opened up... The Sun is shining bright...
And the Velvety lawns are shining in the light...

No I'm not talking about Monsoon. ( and not about the Green Revolution either... have spoken too much about it) It is about a place thousands of miles away from India, a place that has oce again readied itself to witness history.

Yes, The Wimbledon Championship is starting from tomorrow. Roger Federer will be in action again. Oh! I just can't wait for tomorrow. Give me some Green! :D

An Evening out in the open

On the Sea shore

through the winds

I was walking

when it started raining...

Believe me, rain in Mumbai is such a delight!

Yes, it catches you unaware sometimes, but else it is really very beautiful. well, you may say, "Oh Janhavee! have you gone mad? don't you know about the rain disasters?"

Yes, I surely know about them. but I never like to think about them. And Yes, I've gone mad, but that happens with everyone of us. Tell me, what's wrong in being yourself once in a while?

इट्स नॉट अॅट ऑल टेरिबल

माहितीच्या महाजालातला असाच एक मुक्त कट्टा (म्हणजे online forum हो!) वेगवेगळ्या विषयांवरची चर्चा अगदी रंगात आलेली. जगाच्या वेगवेगळ्या कोप-यांत राहणारे आम्ही नेटफ्रेन्डस् डिस्कस करत होतो कुठल्या तरी वेगळ्याच विषयावर. पण बघता बघता गाडी पावसाकडे वळली.

मी सहजच म्हटलं (म्हणजे टाईप केलं) ‘It’s time for Monsoon! We’ll get rains again… ’ आता लवकरच मॉन्सून येईल...

पॅट - ‘Oh that sounds terrible! Janhavee, you should be careful...’

पॅटचं ते उत्तर ऐकून मी चक्रावूनच गेले. (बाकी तिची उत्तरं अशी नेहमीच चक्रावणारी असतात, तिच्या गावच्या म्हणजे लंडनच्या पावसासारखीच – totally unpredictable)

मी - ‘what’s so terrible about it? त्यात एवढं घाबरण्यासारखं काय आहे? मला तर पाऊस आवडतो. I just enjoy it so much!’

पॅट - “Oh really? (हा ‘really’ अगदी खास यॉर्कशायर अॅक्सेंटमध्ये हं!) I thought Monsoon rains are destructive?’

मी - ‘Sometimes, yes, they are, of course. But they give us water, they give us relief from heat and they are REALLY beautiful to watch’ (हा ‘REALLY’ मात्र अस्सल मराठी... अर्थात त्याला ‘खर्रच’ची सर नाही... :) )

पॅट – Well, hear they always show that you people are having floods because of monsoon. (Oh! आता बीबीसीवाले आणि सगळेच फक्त भरलेल्या नद्या, बुडालेली शेतं, तुंबलेले रस्ते आणि वाहणारी गटारं दाखवतात, त्याला मी काय करणार?)

आमच्या गप्पा अशाच सुरू राहिल्या. हळूहळू बाकीचेही त्यात सहभागी झाले. आणि मॉन्सूनचा अनुभव घ्यायला एकदा तरी भारतात येण्याचं कबूल करून सगळ्यांनी निरोप घेतला.

एव्हाना बाहेर गार वारा वाहायला सुरूवात झाली होती. थोड्याच वेळात पाऊस पडू लागला. माझ्या डोक्यात मात्र अजूनही पॅटचाच प्रश्न घोंघावत होता. तीच कशाला, ‘पाऊस? अरे बापरे!’ असं म्हणणारे मला मुंबईतही भेटलेयत. मुंबईकरांना पावसाचा आनंद कधीच का लुटता येत नाही?

एक मात्र खरंय, अलीकडे मुंबईचा पाऊस म्हटलं की फक्त टेन्शनच येतं. आकाशात काळोखी, बोचरा वारा, पडलेली झाडं, खड्ड्यांमधून वाट काढत चालणारे लोक, पाण्याखाली गायब झालेले रस्ते, खोळंबलेलं ट्रॅफिक, अडकलेल्या लोकल ट्रेन्स, ट्रेनमधली गर्दी आणि त्या गर्दीतूनही वाट काढत आत शिरणारी पावसाची सर... आणि या सगळ्या परिस्थितीत ऑफिस आणि घर गाठण्यासाठीची धावपळ...

पण कधी विचार केलाय ? मुंबईचा पाऊस याहीपेक्षा वेगळा असू शकतो? कधी बघितलेयत मुंबईतल्या बदलत्या निसर्गाचे रंग?

पण कधी बघणार? धावताधावता श्वास घ्यायलाही आम्हाला वेळ नसतो. तरी नशीब, आम्हा मुंबईकरांना आकाशाचं दर्शन अगदीच दुर्मिळ नाही. इथं काही लंडन- न्यूयॉर्कवासीयांसारखं उंच इमारतींच्या गर्दीत आकाशाचा तुकडा शोधावा लागत नाही. (अजूनतरी!) याच मोकळ्या आकाशात एखाद्या दिवशी काळोखी आल्याचं जाणवतं आणि अचानक पाऊस कोसळू लागतो... मुंबईचा पाऊस...

तो येतो कोणतीही वर्दी न देता. आपल्याला बेसावध गाठून भिजवण्यात मुंबईचा पाऊस अगदी पटाईत. जणू लोकांची ( आणि बीएमसीची ) त्रेधा उडवण्याचा त्याला छंदच आहे. (आणि पावसाच्या नावानं खडे फोडण्याचा आम्हाला.)

मुंबईचा पाऊस... तो येतो, आणि सगळं शहर धुक्यात हरवून जातं... अगदी एखाद्या स्वप्नातल्या नगरीसारखं... तो येतो आणि सगळी हवा कशी फ्रेश फ्रेश होऊन जाते..

मुंबईचा पाऊस... अगदी unique असतो बरं का! तो येतो पण मृद्-गंधाशिवायच... (अहो, मुंबईत तेवढीतरी माती शिल्लक कुठे राहिलीय?) तो येतो समुद्रावरून, गेट –वे, मरिन ड्राईव्हवर धडकणा-या लाटांवर स्वार होऊन... मुंबईच्या पावसाची खरी मजा अनुभवायची असेल तर समुद्रकिना-यासारखी जागा नाही. खवळलेल्या समुद्रात पावसाचं तांडव पाहताना वेळेचं भान रहात नाही. (पण समुद्राला भरती आली असेल तर जरा जपूनच) समुद्राचा कंटाळा आला असेल तर डोंगर आणि धबधबेही फार दूर नाहीत. बोरिवलीच्या नॅशनल पार्कमध्ये तर पावसाच्या प्रत्येक थेंबाबरोबरच हिरवा रंग चढत जातो.. जरा शहराबाहेर पडाल तर कर्जत, खोपोली, कर्नाळा, माळशेजचा पाऊस तुमची वाटच पहात असतो.

पण शहरात राहूनही पावसाची मजा लुटता येते बरं! एखाद्या कट्टयावर, कोप-यावरच्या हॉटेलात किंवा अगदी ऑफिसमध्येही मित्र-मैत्रिणींचा अड्डा, चहा- कॉफीचे वाफाळते कप, भजी आणि भरपूर गप्पा...). पाऊस जवळ आला की मुंबईच्या फॅशन स्ट्रीटचं रुपडंही पालटतं. भिजत भिजत खरेदी करण्यातही धमाल असते. पण खरी मजा येते ती मुंबईतल्या रिमझिमत्या पावसात वरळी किंवा पाम बीच हाय-वेवर लाँगड्राईव्ह करताना (अर्थातच ट्रॅफिक कमी झाल्यावर) रस्त्यावर टिपटिपणारे थेंब, गाडीचा वेग आणि सोबतीला आवडती व्यक्ती, आवडती गाणी असतील, तर भाई, जीना इसी का नाम है!

आणि समजा, घरात एकटेच असाल तर जरा खिडकीच्या बाहेर डोकावून तर पहा! कळणारही नाही हा पाऊस आपला मित्र कधी बनून जाईल ते...

रिअली पॅट, तुला कधीच कळणार नाही, आमचा पाऊस टेरिबल नाही तर अगदी रोमँटिकही आहे..

posted on starmajha.com

Rain is here!

It rained today! It rained today!!!

Last night itslef I wrote how much I love the Rain, and it rained today! oh can't believe it!

Somehow, I've never missed the season's first rain in Karjat. Year by year, I desperately wait for that summer evening, when everything suddenly gets cool with the eastword winds, when a sudden dustbowl makes the air gloomy and when all the things get charged up with the pitter-patter of first rain... Every year, I've experieced it, and yet everything, it seems totally new to me. Every year, I've celebrated it with greatest of joys... sometims with friends, sometimes alone... but I had never missed the first rain in Karjat.

This time though, I was sure, I'd be missing it. Reason? well, got too busy with myself, my job and daily up-dpwn to Mumbai. I was sad, I'd miss it ll. But I was wrong, the Rain Gods proved me wrong and I'm glad about it.

It's first week of June, and we nirmally get the pre-Monsoon showers by end of May. this time, it took a week more. the whole of May went dry, making it worse to keep going.

But today, I had a day off and it rained! as if, rain was waiting for me to be in karjat... nice co-incidece, isn't it?

Oh how refreshing it feels now! The First rains, it's very hard to explain about it, you have to experience it. Really, there is nothing like the firsty rain.