Winter solstice

I distinctly recall that we used to have winter school break during the Christmas period, which our elders used to call bade din ki chhuttiyan. The significance of this dwelt upon me much later in life when in our geography class we learnt about winter and summer solstices as also the importance of 21st December and 21st June, the days representing the aforesaid two solstices respectively.

In Mumbai, where we enjoy fair weather throughout the year, the importance of solstices is rather understated. However, in countries in the Northern hemisphere closer to the North Pole, where the white sheet of snow that marks the severe winter there engulfs everything into its fold, it’s a day to rejoice, as from here onwards, days start getting longer and a bit warmer too. There’s more sunshine to counter the bleakness associated with cold winters. And of course, winter solstice also means that Christmas is just round the corner.

As someone tweeted, “ Let’s sing “ Days can only get longer” to the tune of famous song “ Things can only get better”. This assumes all the more significance in today’s times of Covid and it’s new avataar omicron. I have composed a few lines combining both the above:

Things can only get better

Days can only get longer

Human spirit is undying

Covid and omicron will have to falter!

There’s Christmas round the corner

And a brand new year not very far either

Hopes of a great future are high

Covid or omicron will be there? Neither

The world deserves some peace

After two years of pandemic and no ease

Let’s all celebrate the resilience of mankind

And live a healthy life bereft of any disease