Monsoon Madness!    

 I’ve been heard the phrase “Ladies..Are you sick?? It’s the man’s world” several times! I have been doing treks and tours, but still from inside a man’s world! There’s nothing wrong in it, but what it means to travel on our own terms came from Sahayathriga! The word “Sahayathriga- A monsoon madness” triggered me to experience it once in life. It was a decision which had a life span of just two minutes. On July 23, me and my two friends (I wish them to address as my sahayathrigas)started to the beautiful Kakkadampoyil, a small hamlet that lies in between Kozhikode and Malappuram. Excited and overwhelmed, we started our way expecting nothing but a bunch of good experience!

On the way, we met our own sahayathrigas one by one. We knew just their name and where they hail from. That was more than enough! We knew nothing else but we started sharing the same emotions unconditionally.

The frame of monsoon madness starts from the narrow road to Kakkadampoyil. Breaking our anticipations, the driver of the KSTRC bus took us safe and strong to the spot at around 1.30 P.M. Busy engaging in meeting our whole sahayathrigas energized us more and more. A group of 30 enchanting women!  I would never wonder if it was a group of youth girls! But I was wondering how the Mom’s of our group managed to make the trip possible! We are proud and inspired by you all-MOMS!

After a Nadan meals, we set out in three Jeaps to Chakaravalam, the place we were about to stay!  Around 3.30 we reached a point near chakaravalam to have a brief description of the purpose we have joined for! Our Co-ordinator, Geethu Mohandas, did give us a clear picture that this is a completely an organized camp rather than a mere trip! Accordingly, we were divided into four groups, which I think was one of the best criteria to mingle. Works and responsibilities were assigned to all groups equally. Sahapady, Neyyappam, Mazha, She, was entitled to all the four groups with a defining explanation. Now anyone knows everyone!

To the place we stayed took just an hour trek. Musifer, one of our co-ordinators can be considered as a Book of nature! He introduced all the plants, exotic species, endemic ones, throughout the small trail to the home stay with a wonderful ambience.

Now, it was time to clean up ourselves! Excited in each moment, we were dumbstruck to see the flowing Kuravan puzha nearby the home stay. At around 4.30, we all reached there. Sorrows just drowned there and happiness just floated above! All thirty of us became like children in the icy river. We splashed, played, and experienced how beautiful the moments were!

We took some time to dress up ourselves! Meanwhile, we had some delicious Kappa and chammandhi and the healthiest drink of the day- chaapi. Thanks to all who stayed back to prepare it!  Like an energizer it refreshed our body and soul to the most important part of the camp- Hamid Ali Sir’s section!

I was inspired and proud to meet him and his family! A family filled with joy of living in this world. He made that building a HOME for us. All set for his class at 8 P.M. and he literally took us to the Western Ghats pinpointing the importance of the Ghats, the ecosystems, tigers who saves the ecosystems, the animals, etc….. It was a moment of realization! He talked to us over hours not knowing where to stop! At a point, he brought us back from our imaginations and said “its’ time for dinner! Let’s all have it!”

We talked while we ate the most delicious combination Kanji and Payar. We had a wonderful fun section later. Our family closed the eyelids with the satisfaction of having experienced a great day!

I woke up hearing a beautiful song sung by an unknown bird at 6 A.M.! What more needed to start a day?

Around 8.30 A.M., we started our trek to Chembothi mala. This time it’s with Hamid mash! Narrow paths with a small stream at times, paths with rolling stones, paths covered with grass and plants, with a serene beauty at the other end of the frame, loops of mountains lying calm, sounds of birds chirping, flowing water, passing fogs, drizzling, winding winds, lush green all around, loving blood suckers and on and on….at some intervals, our brain box was filled with Hamid mash’s information’s on the story of the Kakkadampoyil….

Hand in hand, we stretched to the first peak of Chembothi mala ! Great it was! We all lay down and saw it was only the sky ruling us! Had a small section by Hamid mash on the importance of living simple! The frame was not complete until a refreshing rain poured for us to prove it was exactly the monsoon madness we expected for. Joy doubled! Though we physically came down far, our hearts remain pure and fresh at the peak! Let it stay there forever so that no one forgets that life is to live and there is no one ruling us except the Sky!

All women dream, some plan, a few conquer it! Salute to all the Shayathrigas! Sahayathriga will go on because Sahayathriga deserves it!

Susuwrites.............