Back to the puddle: How the first rains take Us back to childhood!
The moment the first raindrop kisses the earth, it’s not just the ground that’s awakened—it’s our memories too. For most Indians, the first rains of the monsoon are far more than a mere change in weather. They’re linked to emotion, acts as bittersweet time machine that takes us back to rain-soaked innocent version of ourselves.
Did you know that there's a specific word for the unique aroma of rain hitting dry soil—petrichor. But for many of us, it smells like wet textbooks, fresh notebooks, school bags drenched in drizzle, and mom yelling “Close the windows!” The fragrance isn’t only earthy; it’s emotional. The first rains always bring the much needed relief after months of heatwaves and exams. That smell instantly meant freedom and joy.
Long before smartphones, tabs and hashtags, we had our very own ships in the form of paper boats. Do you remember folding the perfect triangle from your rough notebook page, then watching it drift in puddles outside your home? Whether it sank or sailed, didn’t matter—what mattered was the thrill of the making and placing in waterlogged areas; often onto a bucket full of water.
Paper boats weren't just toys; they were our way of embracing the monsoon. And even today, seeing a child do the same feels like revisiting your 8-year-old self. Isn't it?
If there's one universal Indian experience during the rains, it’s this: a plate of hot pakoras or maggi, and a steaming cup of chai by the window. The monsoon made our kitchens come alive with the aromatic masala chai, aloo bhajiyas, and the comforting sizzle of oil as raindrops tapped against the tin roofs. Who can forget the taste of Khichdi, the ultimate one-pot meal for rainy season.
Even today, no food tastes better than what you ate on a rainy day in your childhood—because it had one secret ingredient: unmatchable memories!
For school-going kids, the first rains meant so much—canceled assemblies, muddy shoes, playing during breaks, and reaching home totally drenched, only to get mildly scolded and lovingly dried with a towel by parents.
Do you remember the smell of your wet socks in the school bag? Or scribbling on foggy bus windows while it poured outside? Monsoon wasn’t just a season—it was an enchanting ambience to experience.
Before the era of OTT, monsoon power cuts user to bring families together. It meant gathering in one room, enjoying ghost stories by candlelight, or just listening to All India Radio playing old Hindi songs.
It was a time when every flicker of lightning lit up not just the sky, but our imagination.
Even as adults juggling meetings, emails, and countless responsibilities, the first rain still tugs at our hearts. It reminds us to take a break, to feel the weather, to smile. It whispers that somewhere inside us, the child with wet hair and muddy shoes is still alive.
So the next time the sky turns grey, let the memories pour in along with the rain. Rewatch that Doordarshan show, fold a paper boat, brew some masala chai—and just be yourself.
Petrichor, paper boats, and platefuls of pakoras – some monsoon memories never grow old. The monsoon only grows deeper in meaning!
