JUNE - JETH
Across the Northern Hemisphere, June marks the height of summer’s vitality. Days stretch long into the evening, and the sun burns bright. Fields are green and thriving, buzzing with the hum of insects and the chirping of birds. Gardens overflow with blooms, and the air carries the warmth of the season. It is a time of abundance and endless days under clear skies.
In the Southern Hemisphere, June wraps the land in winter’s embrace. The air is crisp, and mornings begin with frost on the ground. Heaters blast, and fireplaces burn as hearty meals warm hearts alongside homes. It’s a time for reflection, stillness, and preparing for the mid-year pause.
In Punjab, June heralds the arrival of Jeth - a month that celebrates summer’s vibrance. By now, the wheat fields harvested in Vaisakh are memories of hard work well-rewarded. Jeth is a month of endurance under the sun but also of appreciation for the rewards that come from Punjab’s rich land.
The days in Jeth are long and warm, stretching across the horizon with golden intensity. Farmers tend to rice paddies, planting and nurturing the young shoots in flooded fields. The sight of their green, upright stems against the water is a symbol of Punjab’s resilience and fertility.
In the villages, fruit trees are laden with fruit, their branches heavy with the season’s sweetness. Fruit fill the markets, their cooling sweetness offering respite from the blazing heat. Jeth is also the time of rivers flowing briskly, carrying mountain waters to irrigate the land. Farmers and labourers take breaks in the shade or cool off in the village streams.
As the fields thrive, daily life in Punjab adapts to the heat. Work begins early in the morning before the sun reaches its zenith. Afternoons are spent in the cool interiors of homes and evenings bring a collective sigh of relief, with families gathering outside under the stars, soaking in the cooler air.
For those in the cities, June is a month of bustling markets and seasonal produce. Streets hum with activity, as carts overflow with mangoes, melons, and lychees.
Jeth is a time when Punjab’s spirit shines under the sun, enduring the heat yet celebrating life’s bounty. It is a reminder of the connection between people and the land, of labour rewarded with abundance, and of the enduring beauty of each season. As June unfolds, Jeth’s golden days serve as a bridge to the coming monsoon rains, which will bring life to the parched earth once more.
A depiction of rice crops in the month of Jeth.
As the heat rises, may we find strength in the summer sun. Warmly, Trish Saab