The Princess Ascends (On the trail of the “Darjeeling Toy Train”- a world heritage)

Her majesty-the ‘Princess’ ascends
To the grand Himalayan durbar
Amidst fir, rhododendron trees
Standing tall- each a courtier.

Finely woven carpets are
Laid in all her vicinity
With an emerald green hue-
Of the tender leaves of tea.

Veiled behind the mists of Ghoom
‘Queen of Hills’-Darjeeling adorns
Her imperial throne, glowing in gold-
The Kanchenjungha- as the world knows.

The Kanchenjungha stands
Kissing the sapphire blue sky;
Draped in golden attire at dawn
Its mighty peaks rise high.

With tiny steps the princess
Rushes towards her mother -
Climbing loops, leaping over springs
Nothing makes her bother.

The beautiful hills greet her
With marigold, magnolia flowers
But the lure of such gifts
The innocent princess little cares.

Gifts lie untouched beside her tracks
While she passes by as a toy
To embrace the warmth of mother’s lap
Panting, puffing, whistling with joy.

Autumnal Revelry of Dashain-Tihar (When the fervour of the season makes Darjeeling hill folks exult)

Cottony cirrus clouds galore
Across the blue sky sail,
While dark nimbus ones depart-
Announcing monsoon’s farewell.

Emerald green hills around
Get bedecked in aureate hues
Of bountiful marigold blooms-
Spreading autumn’s advent-news.

The smiling autumnal sun
With its mellowed golden rays
Bestows upon the cheerful folks
Pleasant and fruitful days.

With nature at its munificent best
Seasonal festivities commence-
Phool-Patti’s vibrant rituals
Welcome home Mother Goddess.

Worship of the Divine Mother
With great pomp and gaiety
Fill the hearts of one and all
With a sense of blissful purity.

While bidding the Mother adieu
Dashain rituals are observed
With bright Tika marks on brows
Joy’s win over gloom is preserved.

As the balmy days go by,
And the moon starts waning
Comes the time of Tihar- with
Bright musical nights beckoning.

At the onset of the festival
Ritual feeding commences
Of common birds and animals
That may have divine alliances.

The new moon night following
Is the bright festival of Diyas-
These earthen lamps seek to
Dispel darkness from all arenas.

Finally, it’s time for Bhai Tika
A family occasion to rejoice-
Celebrating sibling bond with
Sel rotis, other dishes of choice.

Thus pass the festive days
Of enthralling hues and flavours,
Filling the lives of hill folks
With Creator’s choicest treasures.

A Millennium Message for Indians

‘Satyameva Jayate’
-The truth alone persists,
Is the motto of our nation,
Which, ever in our dream exists.

In reality, alas! the country
Today is quite different;
Poverty, vice, illiteracy-
Have all become apparent.

A Sovereign, Socialist, Republic
Is ours, a welfare state;
But, in writing alone, the fact-
Press’ columns well narrate.

A new millennium is here,
Still we live in great fear
Of terrorists, goons, politicians
Having no law or moral to care.

Based on class, religion, caste-
Vote banks have been booked
While the common man suffers,
His miseries being overlooked.

The greatest force of all times-
The youth, at such a time
Should take up the country’s cause
And its glorious days revive.

The poor, uneducated masses
Should be first to be aided;
The breeding house of crime
Can thus be eradicated.

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity-
Three gems of modern renaissance
Should be restored to the people
By the youth- with total assurance.

The India of our dreams
Can then really be achieved;
‘Where the mind is without fear’-
As Great Tagore had conceived.

‘Raas’ Fair- Revelry at the Season of fall (Cooch Behar’s illustrious event- fostering coalescence of humanity)

As festive season of autumn passes
Leaving Indian masses in exultation
Cooch Behar waits with bated breath-
To host a special fest of jubilation.

The ‘Raas’ fair of the joyous land
Is indeed a great event to witness
Where a mythical lore of divine union
Creates a backdrop for human oneness.

The full moon of the ‘Kartik’ month
Marks the beginning of the fest-
With vibrant rituals highlighting
Religious devotees’ fervor and zest.

At the grand 'Madanmohan' temple
Is set up a coveted contraption;
Revolving this revered ‘Raas Chakra’
Is believed to deliver from transgression.

Thronged by people of far and near
And with stalls of variety put in-
The ‘Mela’ ground starts to pulsate
With vitality, vigor, bustle and din.

To entertain visitors in multiple ways
Tents are pitched, stages erected;
While for merrymaking of kids
Amusing activities aplenty get started.

Makeshift sweet and snack shops
Begin brimming with people,
As proficient performances onstage
Impel the audience to goggle.

Exhibits at the temple complex
Draw in crowds of curious lookers-
Spiritual, secular objects of interest
Fill in the hearts of spectators.

The ardor of the august fair
Spreads across the illustrious land-
Every settlement herein gears up
To embrace the festivities hand in hand.

A fortnight of exhilaration passes thus
Celebrating a coalescence of humanity,
Providing for variegated memories and
Cherishing moments of earnest solidarity.