The Rain and The Flames - By Aditi Kishore Kumar

Written By: Aditi Kishore Kumar

Category: Personal Essay

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Aditi Kishore Kumar offers a captivating personal essay titled "The Rain and The Flames." This piece is a vivid reflection on the monsoon season in India, a country of vibrant contrasts. With her evocative writing style, Aditi shares a deep personal connection to the land and its seasonal transformations, inviting readers into a world where nature and human experiences intertwine.

About the Work

Aditi's essay beautifully juxtaposes the vibrancy of Rajasthan's monsoon with the solemnity of life's inevitable cycles. Her narrative is rich with imagery, capturing the colors and scents of the season, while also delving into profound reflections on life and death. The piece resonates with a sense of joy and melancholy, exploring the dualities inherent in existence through the lens of Indian culture and landscape.

The Rain and The Flames

Original Submission by Aditi Kishore Kumar

The Rain and The Flames

Dear Passerby,

I have seen plenty of rains but never one like this one. In India the rains come in respite of hot humid summers. As the first rain approaches, mist cloaks the Aravali range and the rolling hills, and slowly the desert begins to bloom.

Rajasthan has many seasonal visitors. The Jacobin Cuckoo is known in popular folklore as the harbinger of monsoon. It’s arrival and calls coincide with the first rains. And Oh these rains! The first of its kind are a matter of much celebration, with children rushing out of their homes to dance on the streets, the rain quail adds its song to the general clamour and Rajasthan bedecks itself in all of India’s favourite colours. The fiery red of the wild poppies, the yellow of the Amaltas, the scarlet orange petals of the Gulmohar. The air wears a scent of petrichor mingling with Madhumalti and jasmine.

I have never seen a people as joyful as Indians. However India is a land of many juxtapositions. Tears are as abundant as smiles here, death as common as birth. India has taught me a great deal about the ways of the world. I saw my first cremation here. The flames ignited within me a terrible sadness, a sense of overwhelming singularity, a realization that all of us enter this realm empty handed and when we leave, we must give back all we took from it. The fire, holds not just the body of the departed, it tells the tale of their whole lives. We decide what our flames hold. You decide yours and I decide mine. But that is a long time away from now. Until then, if you ask me, ‘Why do you love India so much?’ I will say, ‘Why for the sky of Rajasthan of course.’

Yours Truly.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates diverse voices from around the world. This prestigious event invites participants to showcase their literary talents across various categories, fostering a global community of writers and poets. It provides a platform for creative expression and cultural exchange, nurturing the art of storytelling and the power of words.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Aditi Kishore Kumar for her insightful contribution, "The Rain and The Flames," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her essay enriches our understanding of India's cultural tapestry and the universal themes of life and nature. We look forward to witnessing her continued journey in the world of writing.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.