9 Facts You Need To Know About Monsoon

It’s easy to underestimate the role monsoon plays in the lives of Indian people. We are used to thinking that a rainy season is something melancholic, dull, and quite lifeless, but in reality it’s one of the most important and pleasant periods of the year. Yes, you heard that right! The months before monsoon are impossibly hot, so it‘s always a welcome change of weather. The amount of water India receives during the monsoon varies upon region and monsoon itself, but in general you will see all the nature come to life, becoming lush, green, and rich in colours. Here are 9 facts you need to know about monsoon.

The term ‘monsoon’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘mausim’, which stands for ‘strong wind blowing from a cold place towards the hot one.’ This is exactly what happens during the rainy season. Monsoon is a seasonal change of wind’s direction. It starts blowing from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal towards the land, bringing all those rainy clouds along. Monsoons are usually associated with tropics and subtropics, but it is also very common in India and neighbouring countries.

Nearly 60% of India’s population depends on farming and agriculture to earn their living. This means that rains are essential for crops and farm animals. Monsoon is the main water source for many farms as it replenishes water reservoirs, while delivering an impressive 70% of all the rains the country needs to water its farms, most of which don’t have an irrigation system.

You will see lightning more than 500,000 times during monsoon. As beautiful as it is, lightning kills around 1,800 people in India each year.