<p>‘Why all the fuss and bother?’<br />Nidhi asks her harassed mother.<br />‘Why do we have to clean our rooms?’<br />‘We are dusting and wielding brooms,<br />So that Lakshmi, goddess of wealth<br />Will bring us luck and loads of health. <br />Ajji’s cooking in a cheerful mood<br />Making sweets, savouries, special food.’<br /><br />Nidhi reaches out to take a tray,<br />Her mother slaps her hand away: <br />‘First, we offer it to the Gods in prayer,<br />Only then can we eat it and share.<br />‘Diwali’s Rama’s return from exile,<br />Krishna’s defeat of Narakasura, vile.<br />Shopping for the celebrations<br />Crackers, diyas and decorations…<br /> <br />Nidhi has a nightmare that very night <br />Wakes up shivering, filled with fright.<br />Narakasura grabs her, new dress and all<br />While Krishna hastens to answer her call.<br />Then joyously she returns home,<br />On Rama's shoulders to chants of ‘Om’.<br />She jumps out of bed at the crack of dawn,<br />For she must bathe before the new morn.<br /><br />Bursting crackers, Ajji’s colourful rangoli,<br />And Nidhi knows, it’s really Diwali!<br />Friends and relatives, melting mitthai <br />Wishing, greeting, just stopping by.<br />She runs to friends with boxes of sweets<br />To Roohi whose Id Biryani she often eats<br />And Carol who gives her Christmas cake<br />And any other friend, who’s waiting to take.<br /><br />Rockets roar, fireworks on high,<br />Lamps light up the moonless sky.<br />Spirits soar, excitement mounts,<br />Happiness is all that counts. <br />But sparklers, bombs and all that glitter<br />Comes with noise, smoke and lots of litter.<br />Besides, terrified tots and petrified pets<br />Remind Nidhi of constant threats.<br /><br />‘Won’t Lakshmi feel cheated and bitter?<br />Would she want to live in this litter? <br />Let us,’ Nidhi says, ‘keep Lakshmi here<br />By cleaning things up far and near.’<br /><br /><em>published by<br />Unison Publications.<br />www.unisun4writers.com<br />ph: +91 - 80 22289290/22371452</em></p>
<p>‘Why all the fuss and bother?’<br />Nidhi asks her harassed mother.<br />‘Why do we have to clean our rooms?’<br />‘We are dusting and wielding brooms,<br />So that Lakshmi, goddess of wealth<br />Will bring us luck and loads of health. <br />Ajji’s cooking in a cheerful mood<br />Making sweets, savouries, special food.’<br /><br />Nidhi reaches out to take a tray,<br />Her mother slaps her hand away: <br />‘First, we offer it to the Gods in prayer,<br />Only then can we eat it and share.<br />‘Diwali’s Rama’s return from exile,<br />Krishna’s defeat of Narakasura, vile.<br />Shopping for the celebrations<br />Crackers, diyas and decorations…<br /> <br />Nidhi has a nightmare that very night <br />Wakes up shivering, filled with fright.<br />Narakasura grabs her, new dress and all<br />While Krishna hastens to answer her call.<br />Then joyously she returns home,<br />On Rama's shoulders to chants of ‘Om’.<br />She jumps out of bed at the crack of dawn,<br />For she must bathe before the new morn.<br /><br />Bursting crackers, Ajji’s colourful rangoli,<br />And Nidhi knows, it’s really Diwali!<br />Friends and relatives, melting mitthai <br />Wishing, greeting, just stopping by.<br />She runs to friends with boxes of sweets<br />To Roohi whose Id Biryani she often eats<br />And Carol who gives her Christmas cake<br />And any other friend, who’s waiting to take.<br /><br />Rockets roar, fireworks on high,<br />Lamps light up the moonless sky.<br />Spirits soar, excitement mounts,<br />Happiness is all that counts. <br />But sparklers, bombs and all that glitter<br />Comes with noise, smoke and lots of litter.<br />Besides, terrified tots and petrified pets<br />Remind Nidhi of constant threats.<br /><br />‘Won’t Lakshmi feel cheated and bitter?<br />Would she want to live in this litter? <br />Let us,’ Nidhi says, ‘keep Lakshmi here<br />By cleaning things up far and near.’<br /><br /><em>published by<br />Unison Publications.<br />www.unisun4writers.com<br />ph: +91 - 80 22289290/22371452</em></p>
