Diwali

Fairy lights igniting

brightness with candles

and diyas burning leisurely

enjoying all the banter

of the mature folks and the

galloping of the kids echoing

in the entire home.

Hot ambrosial food salivating

the minds of everyone

and the kids attacking the

syrupy food very hurriedly

the feast table is set

everyone collectively assembles

at the table relishing

the appetizing food the

cooks made by their hands.

Everyone mobilizes near the

temple as now comes the

moment of worshiping the gods

and goddesses hands joined

together and heads bowed

we surrender our problems

to them and ask for

bliss in our lives.

Crackers are irascibly waiting

for their turn to provide

joy to us we take them

out ignite them and

see them detonate very

noisily the kids take a guffaw

and the elders feel serene

while watching the

kids revel in the festival.

Neighbours join us in this

festive gala their kids

having a great day with

our kids the luster of

the crackers packs the

entire empyrean with

the elders sipping sizzling

tea as it is the clime

of frost and all people

are quivering with that tea

unable to block that

nerve - wracking coldness.

While sipping tea I have

a thought of those

impoverished folks who

are struggling to remain

sheltered in this

freezing climate

my mind

steers to those little

toddlers and

young adolescents shivering

in this weather in their

threadbare clothes.

I assemble my cousins

and compose a plan

of granting those helpless

folks some clothing and

sweets so as to

make their Diwali a

memorable

and safe one all

of my cousins

recognize my plan

and join me

in my drive.

We sign in at their

residence with our

gifts for them

they look bewildered as

they see us approaching

them we share the

gifts amongst all folks

they look joyous as

they hold the

souvenir.

They thank us profusely

with tears

in their eyes they

bless us

with success for

our future the kids and

adolescents say

prayers for us and

I see a sparkle

in their eyes that

speaks a

lot

without

saying anything.

As we make our

way back

home we all

feel appeased

about our

contribution to the

poor in their

hard times

about the smiles

those young

people had on

their faces

and those mothers

who wished

us luck.

As the day ends

everyone

gets attached to

the bed

drained by the

celebrations

and excited by

what gifts

they received

this year.

Sleep evades me

as I ponder upon

those little children

enjoying the food

and clothes

we gifted them

I dream their

gratification on

donning those

winter wear

their priceless

smile never leaving.

I get in my car

tucking away

from the rambunctious

speaking of my

family taking along

with me some

crackers for

their merrymaking.

They see me

joining them

in their party

I light the crackers

they make vociferous

voices the kids

grin on seeing

lightening of those

illuminating crackers

they get charged

up and the frigid

clime takes a

backseat.

We enjoy till

the sun fiercely

sets out removing

the foggy

blanket draped

all around us

and welcoming

us with

some warmness.

They acknowledge

my contribution

for them

by profusely

praying for

my longer life

to the Holy

God I smile

and return the

favour by

praying for

their well being.

I retire to

my home

feeling content

on seeing euphoria

in their

lives albeit

for a finite

time.

I will now

relive those

carefree

moments I

enjoyed with

those children their

incalculable smile

that sparkle

in the eyes

of elders and 

the peace I 

got on

celebrating Diwali

with them.