The church defines
the mosque calls for refrains
I hear the church bells
could be a reminder of the mass
a little away there is a call
a broadcast of the Koran’s clause
as I walk past the lane enraptured
the Nadhaswaram sounds flow
as the drum beats capture
the bell jingles all the way
as people flock to the portals
devout Christians walk in all gay
I see the Muslims paying obeisance in total
recite the Koran with devotion
the temples abound with bhaktas
carry coconuts and plantains in baskets
along with flowers to offer
all in a short pause
not for any cause
but to see the Lord
be him nailed to the cross
be him the Nabi in the mosque
be Lord Shiva and his consort
or Rama and Seetha
an exhilarating experience
lends a great significance
the fervour and belief
the faith with the relief
could be seen in their faces
The flowers for the puja daily
grown in the garden almost
the white flower called nandhiyavatta by most
small and tiny without fragrance entirely
the vilva leaves in three together
tell us of the three eyed God Shiva
the tulasi leaves green and tiny rather
a favourite of Lord Krishna
the arali flowers in different colours
yellow, pink, red and white
placed around the idols collars
render a magnificent sight
the manaoranjitha in deep yellow
spreads a pleasant aroma all around
lends a feel of divinity with a mellow
come the shoe flowers in different hues
the little jasmine and pichis of variety
find their way into the Nithya puja
all plucked from the garden directly
twined as a garland or into a string
follows the lighting up of the oil lamp
that have three or five faces mostly
the incense sticks lighted enhance the feel with a stamp
come then the sambrani fumes slowly
rise up and reverberate the environ
the mantras are chanted in an order gently
the hymns are sung with bhakti
makes the Indian household special