Photo: Wikimedia CommonsMeghaduta, ‘The Cloud Messenger’, by fifth-century Sanskrit poet Kalidasa, is one of the most famous and widely circulated poems on monsoon feelings. Having enjoyed and expended monsoon pleasures, the messenger must then move on to find the yaksha’s house and garden. The dream of her relief, joy and pleasure makes the yaksha delight in monsoon feelings himself. As a symbol of his message of love and longing the young man releases flower petals into the monsoon wind. Excerpted from Monsoon Feelings: A History Of Emotions In The Rain (₹1,750), edited by Imke Rajamani, Margrit Pernau and Katherine Butler Schofield with permission from Niyogi Books.

Source: Mint July 29, 2018 05:37 UTC