Sunday, May 6, 2012

Producing a storm

Have you been told some time or the other that if you really need something, you will get it? Has it ever happened? Of course it would have. And that something would be a life changing wish like getting married to the guy/girl of your choice or getting admission in the school you dreamt of or a dream car.....

I have had many such wishes and I went behind it and realized it. What I am sharing today is not anything of that sort; and yet it was something I really needed and I got it in a short time even without searching for it.

My last visit to the US in 2010; my friend was relocating to another apartment and I was helping him clear off his belongings. This arrangement was temporary since he would move to another place in a couple of months. So instead of moving all his stuffs; he was taking only the much needed and dumping everything off in the public storage. While cleaning a closet; I came across a long wooden tube. When I took it in my hands; it seemed hollow inside and was making a musical sound like falling rain. My friend noticed it and he told me he got it during his trip in San Diego. A note was attached to the instrument. Reading it; I got to know that the instrument was called a Rain stick. They were made only from a particular species of cactus after its dead by Indian tribes of Chile. They used it as a musical instrument to bring rain. They were farmers living in the Atacama desert area. Thorns from the plants are pressed into dead wood. The pebbles hitting these thorns as they fall down the hollow tube creates rain-like sound.

The mention of South America, Chile, Atacama enchanted me. I was holding the 1 meter long cylindrical tube in my hand for a long time. My friend showed no sign of understanding; he promptly took it from me and placed it in a corner among the dumps we were to take it to storage. I asked him if he is going to store that away? He answered in affirmative. I pursued; told him it would be nice to have it with him and he can play it to soothe himself; the music that came out from it was mesmerizing. He said he did not want it. A part of me was thinking then why not offer it to me? I wouldn't ask ever. I was thinking he would change his mind and give it to me later as a token of appreciation for helping him. 

So after clearing up everything, we made a number of rounds to the storage carrying the loads in his car. When it was time for the rain stick, I made one last attempt to coax him to keep it with him thinking he would just offer it to me. He didn't; it went to the dark corner of the cold storage room and shut tight.

I thought about the rain stick for few days; I was wondering if they sold it anywhere else near by in and around Silicon valley or in India. The rain stick was producing a storm within me and I wished I could find it somewhere sometime in future during my travels. I left USA and on my way visited Mauritius. I forgot about the rain stick after few days. Visited Casela National park the second day and while exiting; we had to get out through a souvenir shop. That's when I noticed it; I wanted to make sure I was seeing what I was thinking. Yes! it was! the rain stick. These ones were not rustic and unpainted like the one Shyam had. They were brightly painted in orange, green, blue and red and carved by hand. I immediately bought one. I could get it in less than a month's time was something I never thought would happen.

Its there with me and will be there for ever. Whenever I want to hear the sound of falling rain; I roll the rain stick. :)

Here is mine.


A typical rain stick - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rainstick_01.png

More about rainsticks - http://www.nativevillage.org/Messages%20from%20the%20People/Rainsticks-Heard%20Museum.htm

Sound of a rain stick - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rainstick.ogg

26 comments:

  1. Never heard about it before.So interesting,loved knowing about it.

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    Replies
    1. kavita,

      Thank you. Yeah seems its native to South America. But I loved it; it seems simple but it requires lot of hard work.

      Delete
  2. rain-stick! I didn't know about these and now I want one too. It sounds only so fascinating. And amazing!

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    Replies
    1. Neha,

      If I find it anywhere; will get one for you :)

      Delete
  3. cool instrument ...currently i am in office , will here from home

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  4. There is something so sad, forlorn and beautiful about the Rain-stick. I imagine those Indians in Chile making it. And for Shyam - Grrrr!!

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    1. Balan,

      Yeah the fact that they were positive and created a musical instrument to get rain storms! Ha Shyam..he is a dumb guy! :)

      Delete
  5. Very interesting! Have never heard about these! Definitely something to be treasured and to be passed to generations!

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    1. Vaish,

      Thank you. Yeah i am glad to get one.

      Delete
  6. B, I guess the rain stick your friend had would have been a prized possession. Considering that it may have come from the Indian tribes.
    Pathetic , however your friend did not understand the life in it.

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    Replies
    1. Anil,

      True Anil. Even though he had bought in from San Diego, I clearly remember that it was mentioned being made in Chile? Maybe by the Indian tribes? Yeah, pity him for having left the rain stick in a storage dungeon

      Delete
  7. Very interesting and I too believe that positive thinking yields results:)

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  8. Wow never heard of rain-stick before. Had seen a similar instrument once in rural parts of western ghats used by a tribe for the musical night. Not sure if it was the same rain stick either.

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    1. Ashwini,

      Oh! Maybe there are variations; this one is native to South America.

      Delete
  9. This looks like the insturment that I sw in Australia but they blew into it ..

    Bikram's

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    1. Bik,

      Thats something different then. What you saw would have been a wind instrument while this is percussion instrument.

      Delete
  10. Never knew about this rain stick!! Such an interesting tale behind it! Yes, it happens many a times, it's what the Secret (Rhonda Bryne) says too... Desire-Belief-Positive Visualization leads to You getting what you want! :)

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    Replies
    1. Shilpa,

      Yeah, its not a familiar stuff. So no surprises if most of us dont know. Even I didnt know what it was until I saw it. :)

      Delete
  11. I have never heard of this before

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    Replies
    1. Chowla sir,

      Yeah, its not familiar in this part of the world

      Delete
  12. Interesting and just like everyone else that commented, I hadn't heard about it as well :).

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  13. Sounds very interesting. Never seen one.
    And must say, you are really lucky.
    Reminds me of Paulo Coelho's words 'When you truly want something the entire universe conspires to make your heart's desire come true'
    So true! :)

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  14. The Alchemist :)

    Yeah, it really seemed the case here.

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  15. Wow!! never heard of it.. and would love to get one for myself... the sounds of rains.. usually sooth me.. and you are already aware of my romance with the rains.....

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