For the children, Zaid was a season of simple joys. It was the season of juice-stained chins and sticky fingers. A slice of red watermelon, cool from the clay pot, was a defiance against the sun—a sweet, watery miracle in the middle of a drought.
Since "Zaid" (or Zayid ) refers to the short agricultural season in India (between the Rabi and Kharif seasons), often called the Summer season, I have written a piece that explores the intensity and stillness of that specific time of year. zaid season
The concept of Zaid season dates back to the ancient Indian agricultural calendar, which divided the year into three main seasons: kharif, rabi, and zaid. While the kharif and rabi seasons are more widely known, the zaid season has been an integral part of Indian agriculture for centuries. During this period, farmers focus on growing crops that mature quickly, typically within 100 to 150 days, and can thrive in the hot and dry climate. For the children, Zaid was a season of simple joys
It was a time of extremes. The Rabi crops had been gathered, leaving the fields bare, and the Monsoon was still a distant promise on the horizon. The sky was a relentless, bleached blue, offering no respite. In the village, the elders sat in the shade of the banyan tree, fanning themselves with newspapers, waiting for the temperature to break. Since "Zaid" (or Zayid ) refers to the
The Zaid season was over. The earth exhaled, and the first heavy drop of the Monsoon rain washed the dust away, preparing the stage for the next great act to begin.
While the zaid season offers numerous benefits, it also poses several challenges, including: