The story of putting clothes in the sun in the month of Bhadra

I have been observing a special thing since childhood. Whenever Bhadra month came, my mother and aunts would take out all the clothes in the house and put them in the sun. Nothing was left out, not even the clothes kept in boxes, the clothes kept in drawers, even the Katha blankets. In our village, everyone used to say that if clothes are put in the sun during Bhadra month, the clothes will not spoil throughout the year. With this belief, everyone would get busy together. The colorful saris around me, the smell of the sun floating around, was a great joy for me.

After marriage, when I went to my in-laws' house, I saw that the same custom was followed here too. My mother-in-law always said that if clothes are put in the sun during Bhadra month, the clothes will be good and will not spoil easily. I have heard these words from my mother as well. My aunts used to say this all the time. So I do this every year in the month of Bhadra after my marriage. I take out all the clothes I have, put them in the sun, and then put them all back together.

It's really not an easy task. Just think about taking out every piece of cloth in the house, the kantha, the blanket, the saree, the child's clothes, put them in the sun, put them back together again! Sometimes it gets messy and I have to put them back together. Still, I do it because I believe that what the elders have said is really beneficial. In this way, I feel like I'm keeping the tradition alive.

The most enjoyable part of doing this is getting my sarees in my hands. I have many sarees but I don't wear them because I'm busy. When I took out the sarees today, I was filled with joy when I saw them. I felt like I could wear a saree right away while hanging them in the sun. I love sarees very much, but due to my daily work, I don't wear them. Still, just holding them in my hand and hanging them in the sun filled my heart.

The real fun of hanging clothes in the sun this Bhadra month was with my little daughter. She was trying to copy the exact same things I did. When I put the clothes in the drawer, she would pull them out again. At first, I thought she was messing up. But later I felt good because I realized that she was learning from me. Today she is messing up, but someday when she grows up, she will manage the family like me.

For me, Bhadra month is not just about drying clothes in the hot sun, it also includes the education of the Biswas family and small moments spent with loved ones. Maybe there is a scientific explanation for this, but for me it is like a tradition. Taking out clothes in this month brings a kind of festive atmosphere. Seeing the sarees, putting the Kantha blankets in the sun and the mischief of the girls all combine to make Bhadra month a month of joy for me.

I learned the work I am doing today from my mother and aunts. Maybe in the future my daughter will also do the same thing, putting clothes in the sun. Not only to keep the clothes in good condition, but also as a symbol of faith and love passed down from one generation to another. My attraction to sarees, the time shared with my daughter and the education of the family all combine to make Bhadra month a special experience for me.