No feature on Indian seasons is complete without the —the country’s real financial year. After the scorch of Grishma, the first rain on parched earth creates a distinct smell: petrichor . In Sanskrit, this is ghrane-ambhasya , literally "the scent of the rains."

Here’s a feature-style article on The Many Moods of India: A Journey Through Its Six Seasons While much of the Western world recognizes only four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—India dances to a more intricate, ancient rhythm. For centuries, the Hindu calendar (the Ritu Chakra ) has divided the year into six distinct seasons , each lasting approximately two months. This system, derived from the Vedas , is not merely a meteorological observation but a cultural, agricultural, and spiritual guide that influences everything from festivals and food to poetry and prayer.

As the monsoon retreats, Sharad arrives like a sigh of relief. The sky becomes a clear, impossibly blue canvas. The humidity drops, and the air feels crisp. This is the season of harvest festivals, the most famous being and Durga Puja , culminating in Dussehra .