The Autumn Season
Natural features: As the rain peters out the autumn sets in. The autumn comes as a relief in the wake of the nagging rain.
During Autumn season, the cloud appears tired of raining. It is weary and old. It drifts across the sky leisurely with its silvery head that looks like a huge mass of cotton.
The sky has erases its last trace of black stain and turns deep blue. The earth surface is covered with while ‘shiuli’ flowers.
Festivals of autumn: The crowning glory of the season is its procession of festivals. It has a special meaning for the people of this state. Mahalaya, Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja, Bhratri Dwitiya fill the hearts of the people with high spirits and delight.
Clad in new garments rich and poor, young and old visit the pandals and have ‘darshan’ of the images of deities. It is a time for travelling and trekking. It is an occasion for family reunion too.
Commercial importance: It is a season of great commercial importance. The clay modelers, decorators, tailors, dealers of textiles, sweetmeat-sellers, and drummers wait throughout the year for brisk business.
The people lay by something every month of great spending during the pujas.
But this is not enough. A fat amount comes from the puja bonus to meet the budget. Some amount is spent for travelling and sight-seeing. So the Railways and the vehicular traffic have busy days.