If its Darjeeling Tea, I have always noticed that the media hypes it sky rocketing and plasters on the walls of local as well as International dailies.

Darjeeling as a place has always earned a reputation of being what the locals call “Lakshin” meaning place which is lucky and blessed by the Gods. There are two reasons for it – it’s a small place with an economy that is not overwhelming and still people can be seen clad in the most expensive and fashionable attires as compared to the rest of other Indian places with a similar economic background. I wonder how people manage to maintain this when their earnings are not up to the mark – God knows! Secondly, it is considered blessed by the Gods themselves with Mount Kanchendzonga smiling right on the face and this has provoked us all, local residents, to become and believe in something ‘supernatural’. Anways, what I meant to say is that whatever hardships Darjeeling faces, gets solved in no time. There is some political turmoil at the moment, and hopefully this will have a better path towards Darjeeling’s glory.

Now talking of ‘Lakshin’, take ‘First Flush Darjeeling Tea weather drama’ for instance – news roared with similar quotes as “Darjeeling tea hit by severe drought” and blah, blah – definitely this was a great concern for Darjeeling. Supply of drinking water to Darjeeling town was seriously cut down due to the reservoirs being on dry spell and the most important industry, namely, Darjeeling Tea was on the verge of turning into a total disaster due to rainless sky everyday for the past five months. But guess the Hindu ‘Rain God - Lord Indra’ just couldn’t bear the pain and blessed Darjeeling with the much needed rain.

Darjeeling still needs more rain for water supply to its citizens as well as for the famed First Flush tea and mystically everyday is turning out with light showers which is adequate enough to bear the new shoots and solve the drinking water problem.

Darjeeling Tea Lovers – nothing to fear now – we are having excellent First Flush 2009. Yes, the quantity will be low due to cut-short period in growth and production.

I pray that Darjeeling attains normalcy and every Darjeeling related issue gets solved soon.