Reasons to love Late Autumn/Hemanta

“Voice of spring in autumn
The full moon does carry
As if it paints the floral dreams
Of moonlight on Bakul stems”

                                                            –Rabindranath Tagore

The late autumn fragrance and the stoic splendor of Hemanta in this beautiful part of the hemisphere indulge the dance of the Abyssinian gladiolus getting decorated with Dolonchapa’s white purity and a touch of orange essence in the middle like that of Sheuli. A season that enchants- the magical captivation of one’s consciousness that devastates the inner menaces. This is why she is so contingent on becoming the “Queen of All Seasons” through the holophrastic portrayal of nature’s beauty. She carries towards certain experimentation of paying homage to creation, to create and bloom, and to destroy and gloom, and of bereavement and groom. The Bengali people consider the Bengali months of Karthik and Agrahayan (mid-October to mid-December) as the time of the Hemanta season.  

Here are the top 5 picks for which you will love the seasonal integrity of the Hemanta. 

The exponential transformation of the sky: From Roasted Grey to Alluring Azure to Enchanted Darkness

The integral beauty of the autumn sky is beyond the stereotypical description of how nature can show its true color. The exhortation of the glorified beauty can transpose all the other contours. The vibrant blue sky executes a mood shift and a dynamic flow of conscious empathy subjects to nature. With the end of the day, the full moon unmasks, like the strangers in us all.

 A wide range of late autumn treats

Late autumn’s collection of foods in Bangladesh is exclusive, exotic and perennial. People have the best experience of the de facto appetite of food in this particular season. Different kinds of handmade Peethas and a wide range of sugary and spicy flavors will surely delight your taste bud. The special sweets made on this occasion with newly harvested crops partake in satisfying your taste.

Nobanno Utshob: A special Hemanta festival that glorifies farmers

It is very important to mention that, during the reign of Emperor Akbar, Pahela Aghrahayan (mid-November, the first day of the month of Agrahayan in Bengali Calendar) was considered as Bengali New Year. During his time, two major rice crops were harvested: ‘Aush’ and ‘Aman’. ‘Aush’ is one of the finest rice crops and can only be harvested during late autumn. This rice has high-demand all over the country and is only found during this season. ‘Aman’ is still considered as the harvest of the whole long year. This crop ripens in Karthik (mid-October).

Agrahayan arrives with the generosity and the explosion of golden-colored paddy fields to bring a smile to the faces of farmers. And henceforth, they consider this as the “Nobanno Utshob” or “The Festival of New Rice”. It is a special time of joy, a joy of fresh and newly harvested organic foods in rural as well as urban households. It is one of the major aspects of celebrating autumn in Bangladesh.

Late autumn prosody: The diverse caliber of flamboyant nature    

The late autumn’s attributes have some of its unique and very pleasant metrics of beautiful natural assimilation. The perpetual beautification of glorious nature instills with it the blooming of flowers and the ripening of fruits. The most entailing color of the season is orange as well as pale reddish or roseate fuchsia that contrasts through a delightful hue and saturation along with the brightest blue sky. It is if nature is of another realm. Someone painted on coveted canvas with a dreamlike paintbrush and hung that in the heavenly paradigm of heaven. The sorority of white flowers is a blissful addition to the embezzled contrast of colors.    

“No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.”

― John Donne

 Rivers and waters: The perfect breeding ground of Hilsha during late autumn

This is the time of the year when the fishermen put smiles on their faces. They help Hilsha fish to breed and install the creed of hope of a good harvest during the season of Baishakh. There is a magnificent display of golden Hilsha fishes, sparkling and glittering with golden scales. We can see them inside the river stream, free-bound as they sweep past. Fishermen take the crop residue harvested by farmers on the field and turn it into fish food; a cyclic procedure to enhance the natural food chain.

Henceforth, the season of late autumn is a cheerful transition from the monotonous shrill of the scorching summer heat. It works as the messenger of the most aspired season of winter. Bangladeshis usually long for winter since the entire year circles around summer and monsoon. Only the new year kickstarts and then finally ends with the winter. The late autumn syncs and increases the desire for winter. It is a charismatic inclusion of wintry breeze and color in nature.