Durga Puja in 2013

In India there is a festival called Durga Puja (Worship of a female deity) during the month of October. It is celebrated with great fervor especially in West Bengal though its forms vary in other area

Durga Puja in 2013

 

1

My soul longs

To be with my mother

Who is yet to decide her place.

Where to locate her?

 

2.

The monumental pandal

The home for Ma for four days

Well lit to compete with stars and the moon

In Kalibari summons me and others.

How could thunder, wind and water stay behind?

 

3.

My thoughts flew away with the speedy wind.

Their fragrance coming from dhoono

Keeps me awake to see

The blood of Mahishashur.

What was I thinking

When it started raining?

 

4.

Darkness saves birds

From getting chased.

Tigers run into thick forest.

Dolphins stay where they are.

Nobody bothers the sea gulls.

Will the ninety lakhs hang hopes on evacuation?

 

5.

The rhythm of the dhak dispels the clouds.

The sun above is no more hot.

Pandal is drenched in rain water.

Durga Ma’s bindi stays.

It is time for Ma to return home.

Can’t she return to her Lord next year?

 

6.

Serene pandal.

Serene Puja.

Serene nature.

The heart palpitates.

Where was impurity?

 

7.

I can walk barefoot.

A plant in a pot survives with water.

Phailan is a spent force.

Gopalpur summons again.

Who needs free corn?

Who wants crap hair?

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

In India there is a festival called Durga Puja (Worship of a female deity) during the month of October. It is celebrated with great fervor especially in West Bengal though its forms vary in other areas. In India the female deity is worshiped for nine days at a stretch four times in a year. In 2013, during October a typhoon was there as a result of which Puja Pandals were almost destroyed.
If you are not an Indian kindly see if you are able to relate it to some of your experience and criticize as rigorously as possible.