Omkar Dattatray
The coming of enchanting and colorful autumn mesmerizes the people as it provides a great experience and it is in fact the last and loveliest smile of the year .It prepares us for the winter and we welcome autumn with open arms and take pleasure in the changing colors of the trees ,plants and the falling of the leaves particularly of the Chinar trees which turn yellow and the leaves scattered below resemble red and gold and it is a big spectacle to the eyes .The earth beneath the Chinar trees turns into yellow and red and the spectacle is fascinating and mesmerizing to the eye and thus the people in Kashmir wait for the arrival of autumn season and the children play cricket on the fallen red and yellow leaves of Chinar trees .The fact is that the whole surroundings and environment turns into yellow and gold with the onset of the autumn .There is pleasant fragrance of the air which is neither cool ,nor hot but is pleasant and soothing to the eye and this is the reason that people in Kashmir feel pleasant with the onset of autumn .Autumn season is welcomed by the people as it is the admixture of beauty ,changing colors and fresh and pleasant breeze all these land us in charm and it is very beautiful and enchanting to the eyes and perhaps this is the reason that people feel calm ,pleasant and experience serene beauty of Kashmir landscape .Autumn season is pleasant and congenial for all living creatures including the men and therefore we should enjoy in the beauty of autumn .The atmosphere is most pleasant and conducive as well as charming and it enchants us .Autumn is most beautiful part of the year and it is the advent of pleasant environment and charms the people and thus we should enjoy it to the full .We feel relieved in autumn as the warm and hot summer becomes the things of past and the present is full of pleasant breeze with the colorful pageant as everything is enveloped in yellow and red and the trees particularly the leaves of Chinar trees turn into yellow and resemble gold .The people in Kashmir like other places of India feel relief from the scorching heat of the summer and therefore people experience the beauty and charm of the autumn .It seems that the autumn is smiling with its loveliest charm and changing colors and turning everything into red and yellow and the land beneath gets decorated with the golden and yellow leaves of trees especially with the leaves of chinar trees. Autumn is the third out of four seasons on earth ,and is defined as the transition from summer to winter .In northern hemisphere ,autumn occurs between September and November ,while in southern hemisphere ,autumn takes place between march and June .During this period temperatures will start to drop ,daytime becomes shorter to prepare for winter solstice and trees begin to shed their leaves .If you happen to live near equator ,you won’t experience much of autumn .This is because of the earth’s position relative to sun .The autumnal equinox is one of the two points in the year when the night and day are the same length .Traditionally in the northern hemisphere ,the autumn months are the time of harvest season (otherwise known as harvest festival) ,meaning that with the end of the warmer weather crops are ready to be harvested .In Kashmir also the autumn is the time and season of harvesting as the paddy crop is harvested in the autumn .There is much hustle and bustle and activity in the paddy fields and the farmers are busy in harvesting the paddy crop and are collecting the paddy crop in their fields and courtyard of their houses .The harvesting in autumn is a good sight to see and the farmer feels happy as his toil and hard work brings fruit .Besides paddy ,fruits and foods such as apples ,tomatoes ,carrots ,beetroot and pumpkins .Historically ,autumn was a crucial point of the year ,as the volume and quality of crops produced would feed whole communities .The autumn months have always been seen as a period of transition ,and have been celebrated with rituals and festivals since ancient times .The Celtic festival of Samhain ,originally celebrated in recognition of the shortening of the days and coming of the colder months ,was celebrated at the halfway point between the autumnal equinox and winter solstice .In 19th century ,the Catholic Church moved the festival of All Saints Day to same time,November1.Today we recognize autumn through its key qualities such as the change in weather ,the browning of leaves on trees and through seasonal celebrations such as Halloween and American Thanksgiving .There are some types of trees that lose leaves in autumn .In fact ,usually the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about autumn is the red-brown leaves falling from trees and piling up on the pavements .Trees lose their leaves in autumn ,because the amount of natural light they can get from sun is reduced and this causes the leaves on the trees to lose chlorophyll ,a pigment present in all plants that is crucial for photosynthesis .This causes the leaves on the trees to turn orange ,yellow ,or brown ,resulting in a vibrant color change from green leaves in the spring and summer .Leaves also fall from the trees as they eventually die ,and the tree will become dormant for the winter and wait for the increased heat and light of the spring before the leaves begin to grow again .The key features of autumn are follows-1-Reduced time of natural daylight.2-Leaves on the trees turn yellow ,orange ,red and brown during autumn 3-Autumn is the season of crops and harvest.4-Throughout this unique season ,Autumn hosts significant celebrations .As we say goodbye to the warmth of summer and welcome the arrival of fall ,it is an opportune moment to contemplate the unique attributes of this season and the introspection it encourages .Autumn is the favorite season ,perhaps because it brings with it a series of calm and balance ,an invitation to embrace change ,and it is time we celebrate this change in colors and fall of the tree leaves as heaps of leaves lay scattered here and there and cover the land beneath with the leaves of brown and yellow color .The transition from summer to autumn is marked by the autumnal equinox ,which occurs around September 22nd.This astronomical event known as the equinox ,signifies ”equal night’ ‘as it is the point when sun crosses the celestial equator .During this time ,day and night share equal lengths ,symbolizing a delicate balance light and darkness .This balance is a compelling metaphor for the balance we strive to achieve in our lives .Autumn is renowned for its visually captivating landscapes and the beautiful colors it brings to natures canvas. The transformation from lush greens of summer to the, warm earthly tones of autumn leaves offers a visual feast .People especially love appreciating the color palette of leaves and the breathtaking sunsets that this season presents .This appreciating beauty has also a positive impact on our brains .Autumn carries a symbolic message of letting go ,connected to the trees shedding their leaves .It is a time to shed the burdens ,both physical and emotional ,that may have accumulated throughout the year. The proverbial wisdom ,”Fall is a season for balancing light and dark ,letting go ,and accepting the impermanence of things,’ ‘encourages us to acknowledge and embrace the transitory nature of life .Fall teaches us that we need to let go to embrace the new .The Buddhist philosophy highlights autumn as the ideal season for the practice of generosity .As the leaves change and air grows fresher autumn provides an opportunity for thoughtful introspection and personal growth .It is a season that encourages us to find balance ,shed unnecessary burdens and embrace the impermanence of life .To conclude it can be summed that Autumn is the years last and loveliest smile.
