Indian monsoon is one of the most erratic and uncertain events in the country. The monsoon season starts from the month of July and lasts till August every year. But sometimes, there is a delay in the advent of the rainy season when it commences in late June or early July and continues till the middle of September. India, as we all know, is located in the interior part of the sub-continent and as result, it experiences very hot summers and extremely cold winters.

 

Even the coastal areas which are supposed to ensure a mild and moderate temperature, experience a hot and humid weather which is very uncomfortable on the part of the citizens of the country. So after the scorching and stuffy   summer season, people eagerly wait for the monsoon to arrive. During this time, the weather becomes cool and very comfortable. There is heavy shower all around accompanied by a cool and gentle breeze which rapidly brings down the temperature and makes the weather both delightful and pleasant. 

 

Monsoon is actually a tropical weather phenomenon. Winds blowing from the south- west direction (also known as the South West Winds) from the Indian Ocean enter the sub- continent and blow into India in June and lasts till September. These are generally the off-shore winds which carry moisture resulting in heavy rainfall. These winds break- up into two branches- the Arabian Sea Branch and the Bay of Bengal Sea Branch. During this time, giant waves sweep across these two water bodies, putting them in a sudden unrest which, in turn, is an early sign of the upcoming monsoon. Hence, this season is eagerly awaited in the country because of its weather changing and economic role.

 

During this time, a number of crops grow and mature before they are harvested. The primary crops which need a heavy rainfall to grow are rice, soybean, sugarcane, corn, lentils and cotton and such crops are chiefly grown in eastern India. Apart from these crops, certain other important crops are grown during this season in western and central parts of the country. 

 

Besides these crops, a large variety of vegetables are also grown in the country during the monsoon season. Vegetables like brinjals are predominantly grown during this season. This particular vegetable is useful in curing an enlarged spleen that is caused by malaria. Bottle gourd is also widely grown in the country during the monsoon season. The vegetable, when consumed in cooked form, provides relief and relaxation to the mind as well as body.  It also normalizes blood pressure. Along with bottle gourd, ridge gourd is also grown during this season. It has a low content of saturated fat and cholesterol and is rich in dietary fibre, vitamin C, riboflavin, zinc, thiamin, iron, magnesium and manganese. It also has its own cooling nature that is largely useful for the human body. At the same time, the crop possesses a high nutritional content and is hence, considered to be a healthy food and is also good for weight loss.

 

Numerous herbs are also grown during this season. Indian Lilac or, in simple words, neem, is grown during this season. This particular herb has a high medicinal value and is largely useful in the treatment of malaria. It also serves as an antiseptic in curing infections. Basil or tulsi is yet another herb that heavily grows in the monsoon season. This herb is also rich in its medicinal use and cures cough and provides relief to a person with a sore throat. The herb, when jointly applied with powdered cardamom, is helpful in curing fever. Instead of undergoing an operation, one can remove kidney stones from the body by consuming tulsi leaves on a regular basis. Bitter gourd, or karela which reduces the high sugar level, is also grown during this time. One must consume the juice of two to three karela every morning to maintain a sound digestive system as well as to bring the sugar level within a normal range. 

 

This particular herb is extremely rich in vitamin A, vitamin B and vitamin C. The juice of this crop also helps in curing piles and in the monsoon season, this crop can effectively treat itching problems, ringworm as well as fungal infections and is also useful in treating boils. Another important herb of this season is turmeric or haldi. It serves as a very useful antiseptic in the internal as well as the external treatment of various skin diseases like infections and infestations. It is also mixed with sandalwood to ensure a fair complexion. It is also medically useful in removing worms from the body of an individual as well as an adult.

 

From this, we can conclude that the monsoon season is a significantly useful season both in terms of agricultural output as well as in ensuring relief to the whole Indian population from the extreme heat of the summer season. Since the season assures the growth of a large number of crops ranging from food products like rice and soybean to the vegetables like brinjal and gourd, the season has an economic influence on the country. This particular season ensures a buffering production of food crops like rice which is often exported in order to earn valuable foreign exchange. Apart from enabling the country to earn foreign currency, the monsoon season also makes India self- sufficient in the production of vegetables as well as medicinal herbs like basil, turmeric and Indian Lilac. 

 

Therefore, one can easily figure out why the monsoon season is such a highly awaited season in the country. Firstly, the season helps in reducing the stress resulting from the extreme heat of the summer season. Secondly, the season leads to a bumper production of crops. Hence, this season is primarily important to the whole Indian population which enjoys this season a lot and is filled with joy and satisfaction.

 

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