Each Diwali,
Amma would light up
Small earthen lamps
From a big one,
And ask us to place at
Everywhere we have a connection with:
The alcoves, the drain, the handpump,
The manure mound, the hay-cutting machine,
The tractor, bike, pumping set,
The tethers where we tie cattle,
And all the places and things that we own and use...
As a child,
I never understood the ritual,
It was just a fun time to do it.
But now,
When I ride the Royal Enfield two wheeler
For hundreds of kilometres,
And it doesn’t betray me,
I feel a gratitude for it,
I feel a humane respect,
And adoration for it,
Now, I deeply understand
The ritual of placing earthen lamps
Everywhere and on everything we own.
Maybe that is how,
We feel for the things beyond humans.