Continuing from the last post and in this, we will see how the imagination of communities in both water abundant and water stressed areas has brought forth a nuanced vocabulary, which the people from metropolitan regions can hardly ever think of.

As she documented the 40 names of clouds from the Thar desert that gets only about 40 days of cloudy days (and lesser number of rainy days), journalist and photographer Arati Kumar-Rao wondered, “Does the essence of thriving in this hostile clime begin with an evocative lexis of the land?”

The marvelous names of the clouds and some of rains she gathered include:
teetar pankhi (cirro cumulus clouds, resembling the pattern on a partridge’s wings);
kanThi (cumulus clouds on the horizon);
ghaTaaTope (many kanThi clouds); kanThli (nimbo stratus clouds);
kaLaan (heavy rain clouds coming in from the northwest);
eyyloor (cirrus); oomb (low white blanket of clouds, early in the morning); badali (smaller clouds (generic)) and baadal (big clouds (generic)); paNi-haari (clouds that resemble women carrying water pots on their heads);
seekote (light winter clouds on the horizon, resembling dunes);
ubrelyuo (passing clouds, probably spent);
chhoyo (clouds that are just beginning to rain);
ghuTyo (un-raining clouds in an asphyxiating stillness);
ghor (dense thunder clouds rumbling in fury);
jhaD (short sharp drizzles);
jhaDii (repeated showers);
baavaL (the cool wind following a rain, carrying the smell of the earth on it, making everyone smile) and parlaavon (clouds reflecting far away lightning, meaning it is probably raining there).

Isn't it wonderful!!!

For names of the clouds: http://peepli.org/stories/names-of-clouds/ and http://peepli.org/stories/a-landscape-glossary/

Image credit: Avni Arora. Sourced from her write up: https://medium.com/@iamavniarora/rajasthan-climate-924415898145

---- to be continued