Durga pooja

Oil baths and sunrise rituals

A brighter dawn from rows of light

Jasmines and mogras, lillies and lotuses

Vibrant colors adorning the Goddess divine

Soot flying high from the earthen wickered lamps

The air fragrant with the smell of sweet burning oil

Loud temple bells and soul stirring chants

Deafening drummers within pandals of joy

Merry go rounds spinning with dizzying speeds

Bright colorful lights; yellow flashes all around going faster and faster

Teenage giggles and scurrying feet

Drunken revelry and gambling high

Hurried preparations for evenings of satiation

Cymbals clanging in loud approval

Exile to the darkness; the lights dancing in glee

The air thick with anticipation; this is the last of wrong doings and bad

Aggressive, victorious, excited and anger appeased

All powerful reigning supreme; she comes proclaiming loud victory over the devil

Mass worships and rejoicings galore

The goddess has returned; triumphed over evil !