Paltan Bazar in Monsoon rain through camera eye

For years rain has been described by many writers. Still words are not enough. Many movies and songs have been pictured in rain. Unlike in west, rainy season is very distinct in Indian condition. All creatures from animals to humans wait for first rain. Once rain gets heavier we start gazing at sky ‘oh god! When will it stop? For farmers rain is life. For auto and taxi walas, umbrella sellers and other related business people more rain means more money. For first one day rain may temporarily stop the life, later we get adjusted to it. Everyone prepare themselves for rainy season in advance. Animals like squirrel stores food grains, farmers get ready to plough their land, villagers need to consolidate their muddy house, firewood needs to be stocked, new umbrella needs to be purchased, older umbrella need to purchased and the list preparation goes on. When rain starts all dust will settle down, temperature cools down, green will flourish and many changes will happen. The smell of soil that emanates when rain drop falls is inexplicable. We can write infinitely about rain.

Rain has many special memories to me. During my graduation and post graduation I enjoyed walking in rain in the rain forests of Karnataka’s Western Ghats. Forests will entirely different in rain. Blood sucking leeches will waiting all around you to feast on your blood. Removing them will be a regular work for you. Malabar pit vipers and many amphibians will be seen easily. My bike riding expedition to cloud forests of Talakaveri in Karnataka with my friend ullasa during monsoon is the unforgettable experience of my life. Jogging and Playing football in rain during our training IGNFA with Gajju and others was thrilling experience. I still cherish those moments during rain.

Recently, when I was about to finish my IFS training in IGNFA, our batch visited FRI museum near Parade ground in Dehradun. This year Dehradun received heavy rain in previous eight years. On the day of our visit to FRI museum rain was at its peak. When all batch mates got into bus to go back to hostel from museum, suddenly a wild idea of photographing, town life in Dehradun flashed in my mind. With umbrella in one hand and camera in the other hand I started roaming in the ‘Palton Bazar’, the busiest market of Dehradun. Owing to heavy rain, wet condition, dim light and unfriendly weather it was not easy to click the camera eye. But, with possible time and limited skill I was able to click some impressive pics through my camera lens.

Umbrellas are the inseparable part of rain life. Comes in varied colours and designs. In most cases the colourful and attractive small umbrellas are used by ladies. These two umbrellas were kept out of museum during our visit by our lady officers.

People will run for shelter, when rain start. If you don’t get cover immediately bathing in rain is inevitable. This pic of mother and kid running for shelter was taken in FRI, when rain started.

Most common and healthy habit of men is not to carry umbrella, even though they know that it will rain. Once rain starts, they look for people with umbrella. Two people try to adjust under single umbrella, which is comfortable for only one. I also belong to same category. My batch mate Basu was caring enough to give her umbrella to me on that day. My batch mate Wangdup and Alem running from bus to museum.

Drenching in rain is inevitable if we forget to carry the umbrella.

One should walk carefully on roadside. We will never know when passing vehicle on the road will splash muddy water in ditches.

Waiting for transportation vehicles to our destination is one the difficult thing.

Most of the autos will be running full and the fare will be double. Getting empty auto is not easy. We should try our fortune by showing our hand to each passing auto.

Windows of Vikram autos will be covered with plastics to prevent rain water.

Rain can slow down our life, but can’t stop. A person selling fruits for day’s bread.

Raincoat is comfortable and can free your one hand from umbrella.

If place of work is fixed, then one can go for bigger and fixed umbrellas. Foot wear repairer waiting for the customer.

Poor will have to manage with plastic cover to do their work. A foot wear repairer on the roadside with temporary and cheap plastic cover shelter.

Instead of umbrella and rain coat, street sellers use cheap plastic sheets to cover from rain.

Cycle riskshawala carrying good covered with waterproof cloth.

Not only man, dolls also need raincoat… Dolls wrapped in polythene cover.

Small streets are slippery and dangerous.

“Palton Bazar” busiest market of Dehradun. Even 40 % discount was unable to attract customer.

Many things happen only in India. At times we see person on the backseat of motorbike holding umbrella for the person riding the motorbike. You can also see cute kid in raincoat.

It happens only in India. Holding umbrella in the moving bike is not so easy.

These dolls outside the shops are forced by shopkeepers to wear dresses like the one in pic. They can’t complain about rain.

Sometimes we have to stand in places like the one in pic even though it is uncomfortable.

Customer purchasing flowers.

Umbrella business is one of the most profitable business in rainy days. Nowadays we find variety of umbrellas all prices suited for everyone from kids to adults.

Children always like rain. They are very particular about small and fancy umbrellas.

Kids shopping in rain...

Kid coming back from school with his mother.

Umbrella allover. Scene of colourful mosaic of umbrellas are seen everywhere on the road.

If you are planning to gift umbrella to your dear ones, make a pilot study for one hour in this Bazar.

Ladies never stop chatting. A group of ladies chatting in rain, with typical Indian style of two person under one umbrella convenient for chatting.

Because of bad drainage, our roads are often flooded with rain water. Teens enjoying the rain while crossing the Ghanta ghat road.

Foot wear repairers deserted their place during heavy rain.

No buyers for balloons.

No buyers for fruit also...

Cart covered with polythene cover and roadside shop without customer.

Mango, king of fruits lying unsold. Which otherwise is the most sough after fruits.

Transparent covering for the goods is most convenient method of exhibiting as well as protecting from rain.

View of clock tower from Palton Bazar. Ghanta ghar got its name from this clock tower.

Empty Palton Bazar due to rain. Which otherwise bustle with people.

No traffic, so traffic police on rest.

No one thought about this statue in the rain. The statue appearing as if it is asking for a drop.

No traffic in Ghanta ghat.

Hot food stuffs on raodside are tastier to eat in rains.

Back in FRI, older people on their routine evening walk. Rain failed to deter them from routine walk.

Finally these egrets in breeding plumage in the FRI campus were busy searching food. Irrespective rain, cold and hot days these animal continue their life.