AUTUMN is a festive season in the Northeast. In the true sense of John Keats' immortal lines in his "To Autumn," here this is the "season of mist and mellow fruitfulness, close bosom-friend of the maturing sun." The rains have ceased, summer has eased to give way to mild hints of the approaching winter, prompting people to get their warm clothes ready. Hard labor at the rice paddy fields is over, with the paddies having fructified and awaiting a few more weeks before the seeds ripen enough for harvest.
For any traditionally agrarian community, this is a short interlude of restful bliss in the yearly cycle of life. In Manipur, the season opens with some of its most enchanting festivals. This year, however, they were celebrated in subdued ways. This is also the first time in two years since the outbreak of a bitter ethnic conflict between two of its major communities—Meiteis and Kuki-Zo group of tribes—that people, by intuitive consensus, decided to not completely forgo these festivals.
Hence, during October end and November beginning, in quick succession, Diwali, Kut, and Ningol Chakouba enlivened the state. Christmas and New Year are not too far away, and then traditional spring festivals. If Autumn is rest time, Spring is the start of another cycle of life. Therefore, though an occasion to celebrate, it comes with a measure of uncertainty. T.S. Eliot sums up this mood in his equally immortal line, "April is the cruellest month," in his "The Wasteland."
Denne historien er fra November 13, 2024-utgaven av The Morning Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 13, 2024-utgaven av The Morning Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Constitution a progressive, live document, says Murmu
Addresses House on 75th anniversary of the adoption of Constitution
Former AIIMS chief slams NTF, bats for laws to protect docs
FORMER AIIMS-Delhi director Randeep Guleria on Tuesday expressed disappointment regarding the conclusion reached by the Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force (NTF).
SC junks plea for ballot voting; don't want EVMs, says Kharge
THE Supreme Court on Monday rejected a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an evangelist seeking the reintroduction of the physical paper ballot voting system in elections in India, saying allegations about electronic voting machine tampering are raised only when people lose polls.
Avoid sunlight, stay cool on the go with 'Veyil'
IT'S a sunny afternoon. You get on the bus and sit in your seat only to find the sun directly shining on your face.
Shinde push for Mahayuti convenor, son as Deputy CM if denied CM's post
The slugfest over the new Maharashtra government's leadership continued on Tuesday with caretaker chief minister and Shiv Sena head Eknath Shinde reportedly rejecting offers from the BJP to either take a Cabinet position in the Union government or deputy chief ministership in a Devendra Fadnavis-led government.
Cautious after Game 1 setback, Gukesh draws
EVEN before a move had been made in anger, fans and fellow players had formed an orderly queue to anoint D Gukesh as the next world champion.
Air Travels From 'Poor' To 'Severe'
After brief respite, it deteriorates to 'severe' levels by night with AQI above 400-mark
UNPACKING A SHIFTING IDENTITY
Historian Manu S Pillai breaks new ground with his latest book, Gods, Guns and Missionaries: The Making of the Modern Hindu Identity, interlacing a diverse cast of maharajahs, poets, revolutionaries, philosophers and missionaries to explore the political, cultural, and colonial forces that shaped the modern Hindu identity
Gukesh loses as Ding pulls off a classic
After four hours and change in the humble, unglamorous everyday office chair, Ding Liren finally got up. He left the playing hall for a break.
Biggest and brightest: India script 'special' win
Bumrah & Co register 295-run victory, take 1-0 lead against Oz