The arrival of the Pied-Cuckoo Mount Abu

The Pied-Cuckoo is Running Late. 

This year, the much-anticipated Pied has made its appearance later than expected. Last year, I saw this harbinger of the monsoons on the 2nd of July, but this year, it appeared on the 15th of July, 2010. I’ve been awaiting its arrival since mid-June, often venturing with my camera. On the 16th, I went in search of it again, and though I only heard its marvellous call from a valley inaccessible by road, its presence was undeniable.

 Now that the Pied-Cuckoo has arrived in Abu, I’ll be sharing some snapshots of these and other birds that head this way at the start of the monsoon season. According to folklore, these birds are the true harbingers of the monsoons, arriving a week or ten days before the rains begin. So far, our monsoons have not started. Each day, heavy clouds accumulate, only to vanish by evening.

Yesterday, the bunyas held a “Havan,” lighting their sacred fire and pouring kilos of ghee over it to appease the rain gods. Unfortunately, the rains did not break, leading me to humorously speculate that the ghee might have undergone adulteration, as is often the case with many products here. Perhaps a traditional rain dance like that of the Native Americans might have had a more positive effect.

 Here’s to hoping that the Pied-Cuckoo, all the way from Africa, will usher in the much-needed rain that has been playing peek-a-boo with our small hill station for the last fortnight.

Cheers to the Cuckoo! “Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!”

 

"Paddy's Bridge" Mount Abu

Old “Paddy’s Bridge”. On a road that has St.Mary’s at the other end

 Old “Paddy’s Bridge”

“Around the corner lies Old “Paddy’s Bridge”. On a road that has St.Mary’s at the other end
Do not stand at my bridge and Gape. I’m there, as I’ve always been.

I’m a study bridge and have always been, I’m the memory of a thousand boys,

I’m an inspiration to all who have traversed over me to the gates of St.Mary’s,

I’m remembered every monsoon season with awe and thrill, I inspire the boys

An awakening that awakens when the monsoon waters have their fill

Do not stand and gape at me, there will be changes, I may not be there,

I’ll live on in the hearts of all the boys, who have lovingly looked down at me.

Paddy’s Bridge has been in the local news this last whole week, On the 19thSaturday,2006 the bridge was in spate and the boys had to hoof it over the hill to the new check post to avoid being washed away by the overflow from the dam and the incessant rain. Never in the history of St.Mary’s have the day scholars had so many non-instructional working days as they have had this year? The local authorities banned the local day scholars from using the road as it posed a great hazard to the student’s life. The local authorities finally swung into action on the 25th by putting up temporary barricades on either side of Paddy’s bridge and putting some meshing on the sides of the bridge. It looks like the ban on four-wheelers and heavy traffic will continue to be in force as long as it is raining heavily. Regular school commenced on the 25th of August, 2006.