This
year
we
make idols of clay mud,
sifting
little stones
in
the mud, I replace
those pockets with my baggage,
moulding with touch-drops of water
in this dry spell
I
let my excesses bind, concrete,
decked
up for a journey, sans foot-
prints,
which would see
these
idols to the sea,
they would be swept away by frothy gurgles
in this dry spell
the
decorations shimmer ….
death
rattles
pulling
away those dear to me,
I
make an umbrella for the idol, now seated
in the puja room
away from this dry spell
Ganesh
Chaturthi is celebrated every year in India. Lord Ganesh is one of the prominent
deities worshiped in India. He is considered an epitome of success and any new beginning is marked by worshipping him. It is believed that once in a year he comes to
visit his people, stays with them for ten days and takes away all their
sorrows. After ten days, the idols are immersed in water.
What a wonderful insight into the traditions of others.. to break the dry spell and entering the world where umbrellas are needed sounds like a necessity.
ReplyDeletethat's an interesting tradition... also the immersing them in water after the ten days are over... i remember when my husband was in india there were those celebration days and it was difficult to get to the airport because the streets were jammed with people celebrating
ReplyDeletewhat a really cool tradition/ritual...the making of the idol...the acknowledgement of the dry spell...and perhaps in the making the taking away of that dry spell as well.....very cool
ReplyDeleteGanapati Bappa Moriya...:)
ReplyDeleteGreat to know of such traditions! Idols may have a way of making them happen without us really trying! Great lines Akila!
ReplyDeleteHank
Interesting write here. Rituals of others always kept me wondering. Well done.
ReplyDelete