Visiting the pandals entails the festivity that revolves around Durga Puja. Author Anil Kumar Panda vividly captures one such visit to the pandal in his poem which is bound to touch the heart of every reader at Clips and Pages.
A VISIT TO THE PANDAL
Eyes are filled with love and compassion,
As from high altar she watches the world;
The rich and poor sing songs for her glory
The demon lies dead bleeding at her feet;
Celebration of the victory of truth over lie,
Of peace against violence, love against hate,
Is marked with chanting of mantras that fills
The air as fragrance of incense flits around;
Devotees feel inebriated in cool autumn air
Raise their hands to the almighty mother;
Swoon in rhythm with sound of dhaakis;
Fireflies fly from swinging earthen lamps.
Dressed in season’s trending colors, they
Move in circles like swarms of butterflies;
In the night sky the tiny stars simmer as
Sounds of conchs, ululations, drums and
Cymbals float on crowded paths leading
To pandals draped in tiny colorful lights:
Festoons flutter like liberated souls as the
Soothing aromas of season’s flowers are
Spilled thick from long tresses and buns;
Hurried hands have finished the mundane
Chores and in great enthusiasm proceed to
Pay obeisance to the Mother and seek blessings.
Author’s Bio
Anil Kumar Panda was born in a small town, Brajrajnagar, in the state of Odisha, India. A miner by profession he is working as a mine surveyor. He writes poems and short stories when he gets free from his job. He has published two books of poems- Fragrance Of Love and Melody Of Love. Presently he is working on his third book. His poems have been published in many national and international anthologies.
Clips and Pages 