U - 22/4/03

22/4/03

When I got up I could feel the beat of the heat. Summer is in full
swing and the temperature recorded at the local Met. Office shows the
figure as 40.3 degree celsius. I can look ahead for dull days. By the
time the sun goes up higher everybody would prefer to be indoors, at
home or at their workplaces, as the sun can use its heat weapon and
strike anyone with the 'heat stroke'.

Indian summers are very hot and humid. By noon the streets wear a
deserted look. The stray cattle and the stray dogs hunt for a place of
shelter from the scorching heat of the sun. The birds are perched on
the tree tops among the leaves of the trees and seem to have dozed off.
The lively squirrel does not run along the branches of the trees but
prefer a shady place. The pet dog prefers to lie down with his eyes
closed and only blink at a sound and making no movement at all.

People prefer cotton clothes, loosely fitted ones in light shades. To
beat the heat people drink a lot of water and cold sherbet and lassi is
in demand. There is so much sweating and with the loss of water one
will get cramps so drinking a lot of fluid is a must. The sweet water
of the green coconuts and a glass of cold lemon juice brings a lot of
relief.

Mangoes are in great demand in every household. The green ones are
handled very carefully, washed, cut into small pieces and dried with
turmeric powder and salt in the sun, then mixed with a lot of oil and
spices and stored in bottles. This pickle is used the whole year round.
The jack-fruit is also the summer's child. The green ones are very
tasty when cooked and served as a curry, and the mouth watering cutlets
are no doubt time taking to prepare but very delicious. Both the mango
and the jack-fruit are seasonal and they love the Indian summer. As it
gets hotter day by day these two fruits enjoy the heat of the sun which
helps them to change from green to the ripe yellow. The thirst
quenching and appetizing water melons and the cucumber are available in
plenty, during this season. The rivers, the lakes and the ponds are
frequented by the people who spend a lot of time swimming and bathing
to keep away the heat. In many places the green grass is parched and in
the grazing fields for the cattle there is no green foliage.

Days are longer than the nights and the sun rises very early in the
morning. People feel drowsy and prefer a nap after their afternoon
meals. Schools have long summer holidays and the children are very
happy. They don't feel the heat and are up to mischief and childish
pranks. They play in the hot sun and create trouble for the
mothers.

A root of a plant is used to make special shutters for the doors and
the windows. They have to be watered from time to time and it creates a
cooling effect. These are very expensive as the roots are scarce. This
is a natural cooling system and is used in many places.

People lose their appetite because of the heat. The sale of ice cream
and soft drinks go up. As the sun goes to the western sky, it becomes
cooler. People like to spend a lot of time outdoors and enjoy the cool
evening breeze. There are occasional thunder showers which bring down
the temperature.

By mid June, there is the advent of the monsoon. Soon the rain pours
down bringing a relief from the heat of the summer.