Why I Love September

  September is a month like no other, the heavy rainy days slowly recede to give way to the ‘Sharad Ritu’ which heralds the beginning of the festive season. There is a festive smell in the air and I wait with a nostalgic feelings for the coming comfort of cosy October and November. Now that the heat of the summer and humidity of the rainy season slowly say good-bye, the sky will slowly clear and be full of white fluffy clouds. The autumn blooms of many flowers will begin to bud as we all await the arrival of ‘Ma Durga’. 

The autumnal equinox, which marks the beginning of fall in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere, occurs at the midpoint of Sharad Ritu. On this date, the day and night last exactly the same amount of time.

The two Hindu months of Ashwin and Kartik fall during this season. It is the festival time in India, with the most important Hindu festivals occurring, among them Navaratri, Vijayadashami and Sharad Purnima.

During school days, this was the time for our 2nd terminal exams, which finished just before ‘Durga Puja’ and the autumn break would commence. It was the most delightful time of the year with the lovely weather of the festive season. As my Birthday also falls mostly amidst the Durga Puja, it was a doubly euphoric time for me. The Mahalaya song, which is now freely available on CDs, YouTube etc. was once to be heard  on radio only. We would wait for the Mahalaya Day as it marks the beginning of Durga Puja. 

The Euphoria of September still continues and my heart leaps with joy thinking of the coming festive season. Although in Delhi we do not see the Kaash phool or Catkins (phragmite grass flowers) which are symbolic of Autumn season (SHOROT KAAL) in Bengal, the blooming of harsingar (shiuli in Bengali) and its sweet smell do make the festive season fragrant.

So come, the beautiful people of Habitat , let’s celebrate September. We hope to take you to a journey through our eyes, of events & places and introduce some charming people from the neighbourhood to you.

By Anindita Roy ( Habitat.Time@gmail.com)