The Monsoons 1 August 2010 Mt.Abu

The heavy downpour we had yesterday evening excited the Abuites as all streams and makeshift dams were overflowing. Folks rushed down to glimpse the waterfall beyond the tax barrier. I only hope this is a sign from the heavens that the Gods are pleased and this will continue. if not, then we are at the mercy of the rain gods for our water supply. If the Gods are not in favour and do not shower us with showers of rain, we would be confident this hill station has fallen short of the grace of the gods that once favoured this green oasis.

The present storage capacity of rainwater is a constant cause of concern for everyone. The Rajasthan Government must go ahead with the Salgaon Dam project to ease the present storage capacity of rainwater.

Mount Abu desperately needs a reservoir for drinking water, if it does not take immediate action in making a concrete decision, it would spell catastrophic results for this Oasis of the Rajasthan desert in the years to come.

The Pilgrim Road stream

The stream opposite my home The Abode

Mount Abu Abode of Gods

Mount Abu Abode of Gods

Mount Abu weather

Uncovering the Weather Mysteries of Mount Abu

Mount Abu, also known as the Abode of Gods, is a site of tranquil beauty and enthralling vistas. This hill station in Rajasthan, India, is nestled in the heart of the Aravalli Range and has a climate as diverse as its rich history and culture. For ages, travellers and residents alike have been captivated by the ever-changing weather patterns in this lovely sanctuary. But how can one properly comprehend nature's whims in this magical land?

The modern world provides us with several opportunities to see what Mother Nature has in store for us. We might just turn on the television and watch the latest weather forecast. We can find weather information like temperature, precipitation, humidity, and the day forecast there, all nicely packaged for us. But the age-old issue remains: Can we trust these reports?

I just set out on a quest to learn the truth about Mount Abu's weather. A quick internet search led me into a rabbit hole of contradicting stories and untrustworthy sources. I soon learned that weather forecasts on TV and in daily newspapers are frequently exaggerated. They appear to be motivated by the need to maintain their good ratings rather than giving us a realistic picture of the atmosphere. As a result, I had to seek counsel elsewhere.

For years, I had my set of unusual weather indications. I used to forecast impending rains with astonishing precision, due to my mop of blonde hair that inexplicably kinked up. With a salt-and-pepper beard and a significantly receding head, I now have an extra barometer—my body. My arthritis and joint symptoms appear to be reliable predictors of changing air pressure, and I've learned to rely on them.

But what about the indigenous peoples, who have lived in peace with the land for centuries? The residents of Mount Abu rely on their strong bond with the environment and animal behaviour to forecast the weather. The march of ants, carrying their valuable eggs to higher ground, foretells of approaching rains. The Yellow-wattled Lapwing makes its nest in high places to avoid severe rains. Flies are also said to increase greatly in anticipation of a plentiful monsoon. The Pied Cuckoo, known for predicting the monsoons, arrived in our area on the 15th of this month, confirming the start of the rainy season..

The monsoons have undoubtedly honoured Mount Abu with their presence. It all started on July 24th, with the soothing pitter-patter of raindrops, which has since been a daily companion. True to Abu's character, the environment has engulfed the region in mist, resembling an unexpected guest knocking on every door. So far, we've received around 15 inches of rain.

Deciphering the weather in a site like Mount Abu, where the contemporary world meets old customs, is as much an art as it is a science. The weather on Mount Abu is as mysterious and captivating as the Abode of Gods, regardless of the information source.f

 

Plummy A Sight to Behold

The descending clouds smiling at me

The green foliage caressing me

My face is all bathed in misty dew

Every year I keep yearning for you

Spectre of Drought still hanging over Abu

The spectre of Drought hanging over Abu
 

It is this time of the year Abuites both wait and dread with bated breath, the onset of monsoons. Gone are the days when this Abode of Gods was blessed with profuse rainfall of 180 inches on an average. I recall with fond memories, Brother Barry summoning us to the big pitch in front of the school with a tennis ball in his hand. We would all wait with bated breath as he would hurl the ball into the sky and we boys would all be prepared to catch it. Never had the boys ever missed catching it as our ‘Sunshine Holiday’ depended on it. This ritual would be repeated once or twice during this period. Abu during this period would be completely covered in cloud cover for almost three months, and the face of the sun would only peek through this cover once or twice giving us the much awaited sunshine holiday.

Today, this Abode hardly attracts more than 40 inches of rainfall, and this year it has left us all apprehensive as we are approaching the end of July and have had only a few showers with a little over “3” inches of rain. It’s ironic that once this place yearned for the monsoons to be over with, today cry with despair for a better than an average monsoon. With the rainfall becoming erratic and scarce, water harvesting is the pressing need of the hour. As the only source of water in Mount Abu is the unpredictable monsoon, it is imperative that Abu should go ahead with its Saigon project that was proposed over 15 years ago.


The Specter of drought which is still hanging over this hill station could turn into a real nightmare if the monsoons do not break soon. The coming year and years will prove even more difficult as demand increases and sources of fresh water supply dry up due to Global warming. Only hope we have a better than average monsoon this year, or the prospects will be ‘terrifying’ as Abu could come to a grinding halt. For us Abuites, there is no salvation as we depend 100% on the monsoon rains, our businesses and our very livelihood depends on the rain gods, we are already going through a water crisis and further depletion in water supply would gravely jeopardize not only the population but the whole of this Eco-zone.


It is imperative that the ruling body and the Rajasthan Government readies an action plan for effective water resource management. What Abu needs urgently is to halt the mismanagement of water and plugging of all leakages in the existing reservoirs. Construction of new dams should be put into action immediately to keep pace with the growing population of Abu. Many plans and umpteen suggestions have been put forward by the elite of Abu to the authorities, but only a lethargic response has been made by the Government. Therefore it is high time Abuites should shoulder the responsibility of making the Government pay heed to the challenges that face Abu.

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!”