The Beautiful Cycle of Seasons in Bengal: Nature’s Vibrant Transformation
Notes: Six seasons in Bengal-summer-the rainy season-early autumn-late autumn-winter-spring. Character of each season.
Bengal is a land of seasons. Six seasons visit her in course of a year. Each season has a character of its own. They are summer, the rainy season, early autumn, late autumn, winter and spring. Each season stays with us for two months.
Summer is the first season of the year. During this season the sun shines vertically over our head and the heat becomes unbearable. Tank, wells and canals dry up. People pant for breath. The afternoon Kalbaisakhi (nor'wester) brings us much relief from the heat. In spite of the scorching heat, summer is liked by all for its juicy fruits like mangoes, jack-fruits and litchis. Summer is followed by the rainy season. Dark clouds cover the sky and it rains cats and dogs. The dry earth becomes green. Rivers and tanks are filled to the brim. Agriculture depends much on this season. Roads in villages become muddy and communication becomes difficult. Then comes early autumn. The sky becomes clear of clouds. Shefali blooms and fills the morning air with its sweet fragrance. The fields look beautiful with green paddy waving in the breeze. The Durga Puja, the greatest festival of the Hindus, is held in this season. Next comes late autumn. It is the time of harvest. Farmers are busy cutting paddy. Dew begins to fall at night. Dewdrops on grass-tips look like pearls in the morning sun. Late autumn is followed by winter. It is the season of cold. Pous and Magh are the months of winter. Vegetables are abundant in this season. People wear warm clothes to protect themselves from cold. The scenery of nature looks dull and gloomy. Leaves of trees wither and fall off. Winter is followed by spring, the king of seasons. It is neither hot nor cold. A gentle breeze blows from the south. Flowers of various colours bloom and the cuckoo sings from the mango-boughs. Spring is the most beautiful of all seasons.
