Monkey mela in Lucknow

Living right next to the Lucknow Zoo, I’m beginning to doubt my residential address; thanks to the monkey brigade in my courtyard!

Red bottomed rhesus monkey

The monkeys in my verandah are not part of some Madari’s extended family. They perform antics, yes; but only to please themselves. These jumping delights don’t keep themselves busy for money. Its food that they have in mind! And entertainment of course!

Living right next to the Lucknow Zoo, I’m beginning to doubt my residential address; thanks to the monkey brigade in my courtyard! The morning wake-up roar of the lions and call of the Hooku bander used to a distant reminder of the neighbourhood, but ever since the advent of the Rhesus family amongst us, we feel part and parcel of the Zoo itself, though a paradigm shift is involved: the monkeys are free and we are caged as long as they are around!

They take their pick of food from the garden, kitchen, and hold your breath-the dining table! Their philosophy is simple, if they like it they take it. These monkeys don’t believe in waste-not want-not oh no! They shower food around for the creatures not as bold as them.

Consider your guava harvest gone if they set their heart to it. Adept at opening bottles, jars and steel tiffins they earn quite a varied diet for themselves .

Did you have the idea that monkeys enjoy pickled carrots and Chinese orange preserve. Well the chaps around my house do, or so they pretended to at least!

Lively as they are, the ‘bander log’ have no room for mundane routines .Even when they settle down for siesta or a session of lice – picking, its hardly ever the same tree!

Just wait and watch if a lady of the rhesus family fancies a colourful dupatta (unless its your own) and goes on a modelling spree. You’ll be left wondering if it has done a close study of Miss Indias or something. She might have been staying in Bangalore or Bareilly for all you know!

Red bottomed rhesus monkey in Lucknow India

A dust brown, baby –eyed little monkey trotting the boundary wall with a red hibiscus in his mouth will steal your heart away if you’re not too careful! On the other hand its ferocious mother can scare you for no other reason but to Jharo dadagiri.

Anisha Sharma
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