Monsoons in Mount Abu [ 3/08/2022 ]

Monsoons in the Abode of Gods 

Orange sky at night tourist  delight

In the land of the Rajputs, water is one of the biggest problems. Mount Abu, which is known as the oasis of Rajasthan and the abode of gods, also depends on the monsoon season. During June, we received a few welcome showers. These showers were a blessing to the parched forest that had seen forest fires. Suddenly, the arid forest appeared as if it were a garden of Aden after these showers. The forest fires would now be put on hold until next summer. I, for one, breathed a sigh of relief.

Our monsoon started on July 1st of 2022, so it blessed Abu with rain every day throughout July. This heralded the start of our monsoon 10 to 15 days in advance. The fog fell like it was from the sixties, lowering clouds kissing the canopy of the now green forest, gurgling streams, waterfalls, misty showers, and sometimes even pelting rain. The mountain heaves a sigh of relief this year. 

According to the information below, Abu has been given its annual quota of water. The bodies of water in Abu are full, reassuring us that there is enough water to last until the monsoon season.

Gauge Report Mount Abu

Dated 2-8-2022 Tuesday

☔️Rainfall= 22 mm

🌧Total Rainfall = 42 inches

Lower Kodra Dam=  58'/59'

(1153.53/1188ML)

Lower khodra Dam an inch to overflow 3 Aug 2022
per kind favour Crescentia teacher St Mary's school 

Upper kodra Dam=28'/33'

(302.4/414ML)

NAKKI LAKE=12.25/12.25Mtr

(1215/1215ML)

They have predicted that August will receive a higher-than-average amount of rainfall this year. Monsoon is one month when Gujaratis flock to their favourite watering holes in droves. With occasional downpours to heavy showers, the monsoon is enticing. Mountainous greenery, overflowing streams, and gushing waterfalls are all major attractions of the year. It is the season of joy in our abode during the monsoon, as tourists from all over India flock here.

I advise those travelling this way to make their reservations well in advance, as Abu will be flooded by 15 August 2022 with tourists scrambling for hotels and rooms.

Abuites are praying for a respite from this gloomy spell of non-sunny days so that they can once again enjoy the sunshine.

Large-billed Or Jungle crows Omen or a blessing Mount Abu

A congregation of a “murder of crows” 

Long-billed Jungle Crows

Folktale has it that crows congregate and decide another species' capital fate. 

Many view the manifestation of crows as an omen. Well, the 2019 elections are around the corner. Will the coming elections be associated with "Aacha Din", especially in the state of the Rajputs, or will there be an upheaval that may be turbulent and detrimental to the stigmata of our state of being called ‘lychgate’? 

I'm sure there is trepidation about what the results of the coming elections are about bringing forth. I'm no soothsayer but I take it Bharat our nation will rise to the occasion and the folks will rejoice and see AACHA DIN.

Mount Abu "Garasias"

  The Flower Moon

May 2, 2007

The Full Flower Moon. Abu’s hillsides are in full bloom. Out here in India, it’s called “Buddha Purnima”. The full moon this year fell on May 2, 2007; it commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. On special days, many people go to Indian holy places to ask the gods for their favour. What fascinates me is the large number of "Garasias" who come to my hometown.

These Garasias throng to Abu by the hundreds and that too on foot, they hoof it all the way up from villages all over Rajasthan. They come in enormous groups singing and dancing in their local dialect till they amass around the famous Nakki Lake at Abu, their final destination.

For the Garasias, "Buddha Purnima" is an important day as they decided on marriages on this day. The Garasias pay the bride's "price" to her father after elopement. Should this agreement not work out, the girl returns home with her father, who receives some money for the inconvenience caused.

The Garasias, legend has it is descendants of the Rajput tribe of the Chauhans. Apparently, the Chauhans, after being defeated in a battle aeons ago, fled and mingled with the local Bhil tribe to form a distinctive group. The tribal population of Garasias are concentrated around the hills of Abu and the KOTRA region of Udaipur.

The Garasias have a Bhil culture with bows and arrows for hunting and self-defence. I Still fail to understand how they have a higher status than the native Bhil. Perhaps there is some truth in the legend of the Garasias origin (the fallen Rajputs)

The zest for the life of these people left an impression on me. I’m posting a few snaps of these fun-loving folks, Happy viewing.

"Garasias" who come to my hometown.

"Garasias" who come to my hometown, during Buddha Purnima"

Garasias throng to Nakki Lake