Rain, Rain, Don’t Go Away!

By K V Murali Mohan

Take away the rains, and Kerala is only half its story. It is the monsoon that colours its landscapes, nourishes its waters, and keeps its culture alive. Doesn't all this make you feel like singing "Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away?"

Rain, Rain Don't Go Away

Rain is a spirit dampener, they say. It disrupts your routine, derails your plans and even dashes that dream match. No wonder we all grew up singing, ‘Rain, Rain, Go Away.’

With the monsoon stretching across nearly half the year,  shunning the rains is unthinkable for Keralites. They live with it and make the best of it. That is what the Karkidakam story is about..

Karkidakam (July 17–August 16) marks the peak of Edavapathy or the South West Monsoon. Incidentally Kerala has two rainy seasons: Edavapathy (southwest monsoon-June to September) and Thulavarsham (northeast monsoon-October to December). Edavapathy has heavy showers throughout with occasional sunny interludes. In Thulavarsham (November), thunder showers occur mainly at night.

Rhythm Of Rain

In Kerala rain rejuvenates the nature. As rain pitter-patters across the landscape, nature comes alive with the orchestra of bird chirps, frog croaks, wind howls, tree groans, and rustling leaves. Plantations, paddy fields, and forests burst into vibrant hues. The water bodies—the sea, the rivers, the waterfalls, and the backwaters—too burst into life. If you're out on a drive, you navigate muddy stretches and potholes, only to be rewarded with lush landscapes and vibrant greenery at every turn.

Time to Detox

Ayurveda regards the Edavapathy as the ideal time  for rejuvenation therapies as the body becomes more receptive to the treatment during this time. Performing artistes, too, undergo Ayurvedic therapies to prepare for rigorous performances. The month of Karkidakam also marks the time of care for captive elephants. Scores of elephants line up in many major temples to receive nourishing feed formulated according to Ayurvedic texts. The ritual, known as Aanayoottu, draws large crowds.

Anayoottu

 A Date with Art Forms

What makes the rainy season special in God’s own land is the monsoon specific art forms(art and religion are made for each other in this State) The first thing that pops into one's mind is the visit of Paanan (local tribe) couple for Thuyilunarthal ( waking up). The folk songs they sing are engaging due to their simple notes and subtle rendering. People believe the Paanan couple are Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy disguised in tribal attire. The tradition stay alive more in movies and stage shows now.

Thuyilunarthal

Next comes Para, a ritual that combines rhythm and ritual to invoke Goddess Bhadrakali. It features percussion ensembles, rustic dance, and the oracle, who serves as the divine representative. Teyyam and Thira are distinctive dance tradition of North Kerala. The performers dress up as various deities and enact incidents found in folklore.  

Another art form worth mentioning is Chakiar Koothu. The art form derives the name after the Chakiar community, who are the hereditary performers. Koothu is staged at many Koothambalams (temple theatres) during the monsoon months. An example is the Koodalmanikkam temple, Irinjalakuda, in central Kerala. The performance usually lasts for 41 days.

 Divine Awakening

For the religiously inclined, the perfect finale to the Karkidakam story is the Naalambala Darshanam—a pilgrimage to the four sacred shrines dedicated to the Ramayana brothers: Rama, Bharatha, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna, undertaken on a single day during Karkidakam, also known as the Ramayana Month. This pilgrimage is often compared to the Char Dham Yatra in its spiritual significance.

The four temples are located at Triprayar, Koodalmanikkam (Irinjalakuda), Moozhikkulam, and Payammal, all within an 80-kilometre circuit in central Kerala.

Naalambalam

 According to legend, the idols enshrined in these temples were once worshipped by Lord Krishna in Dwaraka. When the ancient city was submerged, the idols were recovered from the sea and later consecrated in these sacred shrines, adding to the pilgrimage's enduring spiritual appeal.

Take away the rains, and Kerala is only half its story. It is the monsoon that colours its landscapes, nourishes its waters, and keeps its culture alive. Doesn't all this make you feel like singing "Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away?"

 #kerala #rainyseason #traditionalart #keralatourism #ayurvedic #ayurveda #monsoon #rain

By K.V.Murali Mohan A passionate freelance writer, blogger and ardent communicator - Double Post Graduate in communication subjects -Recipient of Kulapati Gold Medal and TKM Rao award in Journalism - Credited with four decades of literary pursuit spanning over 300 plus articles in national and regional publications.