From ancient Sanskrit poets to contemporary Bollywood lyricists, the drizzly Indian monsoon has been a muse for creative minds across generations. One of the greatest odes to the rains is Sanskrit author Kalidasa’s lyric poem, Meghaduta (The Cloud Messenger), which details the story of a banished yaksha, or nature spirit, who calls upon a passing cloud to carry a message to his beloved wife in the Himalayas. And this week, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) is conducting an eight-session workshop to interpret select verses from the poem.

Titled Monsoon with Meghdhoot, the virtual workshop will not just focus on the poem, but also explore Kalidasa’s penmanship in elevating a mundane, natural phenomenon — the rains. Swapnokalpa Dasgupta, head of dance, NCPA, shares, “Kalidasa is one of the greatest poets of ancient India. Some people say he was born in Ramtek, Maharashtra; others suggest he lived in Ujjain and Kalinga.