These lines are being written on Basant Panchami, a day whose significance is widely acknowledged not only on the spiritual calendar of India but technically even in the climatic calendar. The people who had a social orientation in the British version of Indian climate were known to dawn their winter suits in the larger part of North India on the 1st of November. However, the declaration of the closure of winter took place on the 5th day of the Basantritu (season). To mark the festive spirit of the change, the men wore mulmul fabrics and the women donned a dress in yellow colour. There was gaiety in the air and many places celebrated it with the worship of Goddess Saraswati and a smattering of religiosity. Marigolds were the favourite flower-marked again by their deep yellow hew.
Over a period, the idiom has undergone some change. Some of the changes, a few lay at the doors of climate change. Illustratively, in many parts of North India, on Basant Panchmi the daily temperatures are such that wearing light clothes of...
