The scent of rain, the sound of megh: Moods & notes of monsoon | Delhi News

Condensing the many motifs of the monsoon into one evening, the first chapter of Baarish festival season two unfolded under a glass dome in Chhattarpur coinciding with World Music Day. The evening brought together music, storytelling and a bespoke fragrance inspired by petrichor to celebrate the many ways rain has shaped India’s cultural imagination.A session, titled Rasikas of Baarish, led by speaker Eric Chopra, explored the monsoon’s presence in Indian art and literature. Drawing on Pahari (miniature art style from the Himalayan foothills), Mughal and Rajasthani miniature traditions, he discussed how rain has long served as a motif for longing, romance and reunion.‘An experience of the monsoon through multiple artistic lenses’ Talking about the festival, curator Minhal Hasan said, “Baarish was envisioned as a celebration of rain as an emotion – one that connects memory, music and culture. From classical traditions and storytelling to contemporary interpretations, the idea was to create a space where audiences can experience the monsoon through multiple artistic lenses.”The evening concluded with a performance by electronic music duo Midival Punditz, joined by Malini Awasthi, Kutle Khan and Pavithra Chari.

Talking about her love for saawan , Malini Awasthi said, “In India, rain is hope, celebration and a promise of renewal after months of scorching heat. That is why our many musical traditions are inspired by the monsoon. Clouds have long been seen as messengers of love, and folk music has preserved that emotion for generations”

From Nur Jahan’s court to modern perfumeryDuring the segment, Perfume & Petrichor, Eric spoke about the historical use of attars in the Mughal era, noting that rose attar is often traced to the court of Empress Nur Jahan. He narrated the account: “In the early 17th century, Asmat Begum, Nur Jahan’s mother, noticed a fragrant froth forming on the surface of rose petals while rose water was being prepared through distillation. Intrigued, she asked an attendant to collect the froth in a small bottle to see what it yielded. The result was a concentrated fragrance. The invention of rose attar goes back to the family of Nur Jahan.”

Adding another sensory dimension to the experience was Perfume & Petrichor: Baarish x OLFA Originals, featuring a conversation between Pallavi Bhatia and Minhal Hasan. The session explored the intimate relationship between fragrance, memory, and emotion, culminating in the unveiling of Baarish, a bespoke fragrance created exclusively for the event and inspired by the distinctive scent of rain.

A taste of the monsoonA monsoon-themed menu by Cafe Lota complemented the programme, featuring dishes such as Banarasi tamatar chaat , ram laddoo, jhol momo, ragi vada pav and siddu , along with beverages including masala chai, aam panna and bel sharbat .