Bhadro: The Graceful Return to Our Roots - Farah Zahir

 

THE RHYTHM OF COLOURS OF THE TWELVE MONTHS

Bhadro: The Graceful Return to Our Roots

When Bhadro arrives, nature’s mood changes. In the sound of falling leaves, in the dust-laden scent of dry fields, and in the soft clouds floating across the sky, there seems to be hidden a fragment of repose. This month is the remembrance of the earth’s strength, a construction of a natural architecture that returns to the roots. The comfort of arranging the house in the shade of earthy brown and verdant green is not only a delight to the eyes—it is a search for a profound spiritual peace.

Bhadro—a month turned inward by nature. The last drops of rain still fall upon the leaves, yet the sky glitters with sunshine. The arrival of Kash (Catkin) flowers takes place quietly in the fields, the river water remains calm, as though within it too lies a long sigh. I always say, those who are born in different months carry within them the character of that very month—a slow, mature strength. Have you ever wondered why I say this? Because our taste, our choice of colour, even our way of moving—are all shaped under the shadow of nature. Each of us responds differently to the beauty of nature. And this response makes us distinct—our preferences, our dreams, the words we write—everything is of its own kind.

In this urban life we seem to run endlessly, incessantly. We do not even get the time to think—where are we placing ourselves, what are we chasing. Yet how often do we feel—let us leave everything behind, disappear somewhere far from this machinery. If only we had a rural home of our own, or such a place that we could shape in our own way—in the breeze of Bhadro, in the fragrance of earth, in the light of Kash (Catkin) flowers—then perhaps returning to oneself would be possible. A corner for writing, sitting quietly by a wooden window and speaking with nature—this is all that is needed.

Such is life—however complex, nature calls us to return simply, and our home too should be just like that—silent, stable, yet profound. So let us, in this month, arrange our rural dwelling in a slightly different way—with the touch of nature, with the affection of the heart.

A house in the light of Bhadro

Let us now go to our village home. Imagine, whether it be a one-storey tin house or a two-storey brick structure—around it there should spread the touch of lush green. On the veranda a cane chair, a mat spread in the corridor, and a clay pitcher placed on one side—these can be the beginning of our ‘Bhadro theme’ home.

If the walls of the house are of plain colour, then on one side a wall may be made in the colour of raw earth—which creates a kind of background for the colours of nature. On that wall we may hang a framed torn gamchha, handicrafts made of bamboo, or macramé art made with jute.

A solitary sanctuary of writing

If you are a writer, then this time may be the ideal moment to create a private ‘writer’s corner’. In one room of the house, a small wooden table—bearing the marks of time, and beside it a bamboo basket—where you will keep your favourite books, old letters, some mountain stones or bunches of dried flowers.

By the window you may place a small stool or a mat with a soft mattress—where in the afternoons you may sit to write, to read, or simply to gaze at the sky. This corner may be arranged with a simple jute curtain, which sways in the breeze. Light falls upon the pages of the book, and in the air floats the sound of rustling leaves.

A house coloured in the hues of Bhadro

The colours of Bhadro are earthy brown and verdant green. Earthy brown is the colour of dry soil, symbol of stability and roots. And verdant green means the deep pull of life, which keeps alive the freshness within. You may bring these two shades into the curtains of the house, in clay vessels, in wooden furniture, even in patterned fabric.

In table runners, cushion covers or bedspreads, the use of these colours may bring to the atmosphere of the home a profound peace. If you wish, you may use kantha or woven work made by local artisans—which are not only aesthetic, but also a small effort of social connection.

A home adorn with natural elements

A house is not only a collection of furniture, but a reflection of a soul. And those born in the month of Bhadro are very closely connected with that soul. You may place in different corners of the house—

● Clay pots: not only for decoration, but they also preserve the humidity of the room.

● Bamboo baskets: on one side for decoration, on the other for storing necessary things.

● Wooden hangers or shelves: bringing such pieces made by local craftsmen will turn the home into a haven scented with earth.

● Mats made of jute and coir: bring to the floor a kind of raw yet aesthetic touch.

Outside the house you may keep a tulsi plant, neem, or flowering shrubs. On the veranda in small tubs, lemon leaves, coriander or mint—which also serve the kitchen.

Evening light and the song of Bhadro

When evening descends after the afternoon, the light in the house should be gentle. Not harsh white light, but rather a yellowish glow—which recalls the late afternoon sun of Bhadro. In a lamp shade made of bamboo or wooden frame, or in a clay lamp lit with oil—the light is not only for seeing, but for feeling.

In this house let there drift the scent of jackfruit leaves, the wind from a distant bamboo grove, or the mist-laden mornings of childhood. This house, even amidst the crowd of the city, is a fragment of the village, a drop of Bhadro.

A house, a fragment of roots

In this month of Bhadro, let us arrange some corner of our home in the manner of this month—silent, yet full. Nothing great is needed—earth, wood, light and air—with these four elements one can create a unique refuge.

This is not merely interior decoration, it is a kind of mental revolution. An effort to know oneself, to give time to oneself. This house will be your earth—where the language of writing will return, thoughts will arise, and that silence of the mind, which is the most urgent absence of this time.

In the light of Bhadro, in verdant green and earthy brown—shape yourself into a silent yet profound personality. First decorate the house within yourself, only then may true connection with the outer world be possible.

In this Bhadro, let us build a house for speaking with ourselves.

Farah Zahir

Columnist, Shobdo Mukur e-mag