The Rusty Nail (Tetanus Scare)

The Rusty Nail (Tetanus Scare)

I recalled the well-known Telugu (Vemana’s) poem with extreme excruciating pain in the left foot:

చెప్పులోని రాయి చెవిలోని జోరీగ/కంటిలోని నలుసు కాలిముల్లు/ఇంటిలోని పోరు నింతింత కాదయా/విశ్వదాభిరామ వినర వేమ!

Even when the roads and neighborhood are meticulously clean we still see an occasional nail, a broken twig, a discarded soda can, or a car wiper steel blade. In modern towns most things on the road or wayside are harmless except for a sharp nail or screw. On the highways too we come across sharp objects – but it is quite rare here in the northeast US; probably I experienced a few tire blowouts once or twice on expressways moving at seventy miles (mph).

Perhaps some unknowable power is instructing me to write these infrequent articles on personal health and bodily maintenance. They may help other sadhakas (spiritual aspirants) - they may instill some courage in bearing the troubles of a fragile human body. Even with utmost care we can run into unexpected health problems, get a cut here or there, or stumble into thorny bushes or fall into rocky valleys. Or get suspended upside down in a rollover auto accident. Such is life. In most of the developed world tetanus related illnesses (గుఱ్ఱపు వాతము, ధనుర్వాతము) have come down drastically due to the arrival of modern vaccine shots, footwear, and hygiene. The vaccine shots must be administered (and regularly updated) with booster shots every ten years.

Recently I got into this terrible situation (rather, pickle) suddenly out of the blue in one morning. Some weeks ago we went through house repairs (roofing, gutters) work; the contractors did all the cleaning and clearing of debris, they did with utmost meticulous care. We thought all the discarded loose nails were gathered (through a magnetic broom) and thrown into the trash. Then suddenly one day a lone rusty nail was on the garden floor sitting (rather lying horizontally) prettily on the slate tiled floor next to the porch. Unaware of the rusty troublemaker I put my sprightly foot on it while descending on the porch steps. Then everything happened within the blink of an eye: The rusty nail flipped into semi-vertical (450) position, went through the Hawaii slipper (flip-flops), and pierced my sole brutally. At the moment I felt as though I got pierced through the heart. It appears there are very sensitive nerves in our feet, particularly in the underneath cushiony areas.  To help us with our erect walking strides we have soft (rubber like patches) of muscular bumps in our soles, i.e., the underneath of feet. That evolutionary gift helps us walk smoothly without any jerks, with minimum friction on our skeletal frames.

There was nothing I could do immediately after the terrible accident; I was in total shock with the shooting pain, barely able to recover. As I looked at the blood-dripping slipper I realized the enormity of the dangerous situation. Quickly I pulled the nail and limped back into the house. After pressing the wound with a soft white tissue I sealed the spot with a bandage (Band-Aid). My immediate concern was to stop the bleeding quickly, as I am prone to excessive bleeding. Luckily the bleeding stopped fully within ten or fifteen minutes. I kept the wound totally dry for a whole day; later I applied a dab of antibiotic topical cream (Bacitracin), just to be on the safe side.

There was no remnant of the rusty nail (piercing tool) in the foot but I could not trust my own care and instincts. So, I followed it with a visit to our family doctor (GP, Internist). There, in the physician’s office they checked my records for the tetanus vaccine and did a thorough exam of the wound. I was discharged with a course of antibiotics (Cipro) prescription; it was to ward off any spread of infection to the heart, etc.. 

Recuperation 

It took more than three weeks for the wound to heal completely – both externally and internally. Still the wounded region (spot) feels a bit sore to the touch sometimes. A long walk or extended hours of standing vertically does make it slightly painful. At the moment I am using only lukewarm sudsy (soapy) water with Epsom salt. It appears such immersion in warm salty water relaxes the muscles – it offers relief for tired feet. 

How do the elderly adults cope with such wound (puncture, pierced) complications? I am particularly concerned about folks in developing countries without easy access to doctors or modern hospitals. But all is not lost due to lack of money or modern medicines. Many societies have sound cultural roots to overcome minor (or even major) medical emergencies. Usually an herbal doctor is at hand to attend to such wounds. Immediate bleeding arrest followed by proper wound dressing should take care of the problem. However in the case of some adults (elders, seniors) we must also take into account these factors: blood thinner medications, diabetes (type II) complications, and tetanus shots.

Both in the immediate (first aid) wound dressing and follow up care I mostly followed my own instincts and intuition gained through experience. In the early days I used to limp and put greater burden on the other healthy foot.

Of course I learned my lesson through this accidental injury. A thick-soled sneaker would have prevented or at least reduced the severity of the wound. That is why in most factory floors workers are advised to wear strong boots. Also it wouldn’t hurt to keep the premises clean without loose debris, particularly after major repairs. I want to conclude with several herbal remedies for skin lesions: turmeric (పసుపు), marigold (బంతి), vinca (బిళ్ళ గన్నేరు), Aloe vera (కలబంద) and gum Arabic (తుమ్మ). These have been well researched (see Materia Medica India)  and there is substantial literature on the Internet (ex:Traditional therapies for Skin Wound Healing). Ideally keeping the wound dry should make it heal faster; ultimately the physical body heals itself aided by our Guru. Our only concern should be this: not to let the patient slip into a grave tetanus infection or other complicated prolonged wound enlargement, etc. Timely medical intervention is a must for such traumatic situations. While writing this article I often think of individuals in the remote corners of Indian villages or some hilly terrain in the Himalayas. As a kid I used to accidentally step on thorny bushes (Acacia) or on the sharp Date Palm leaves. Then mother or sister would gently apply first aid and ease my pain. And we had many (probably more than a dozen) well-trained doctors of various systems (Ayurveda, herbal, Homeopathy, allopathy) in the village. Often they would attend such emergency injuries without charging upfront fees. The tetanus bacterium is mostly found in agricultural environments. It is also found in animal manure (horse dung) and droppings. People with bare feet are especially vulnerable to wounds on the lower limbs. The bacteria can find its path into the body through any accidental cut. The mortality and morbidity from tetanus complications in India is quite high (>40%), hence beware! Copyright 2025 by the author

 

My Bengali Brother (Poem)

“The good is oft interred
With their bones”
No, his good deeds and
Laughter will stay with us;
It will endure, memories will only
Radiate brighter with time

He (VG)
Was one-of-a-kind 
A very unique person
With a flair for classy things
Of life –
From locally produced Maple Sugar,
Crispy Cortland Apples, luscious juicy
Southern tier peaches to
Date Palm Sugar of India

He tried to peek
Thro’ the foggy windows of time
And visualize better times
For humanity; he
Wanted better crops of sugar,
Newer tuber crops and 
Community gardens with heirloom tomatoes

Always loved the aromatic
Madurai Malli, Kakinada Red rose,
Jasmine Grand Duke, Michael Champaka,
Or the rare redolent Hosta (plantaginea)

A lone Cyclamen or a puny Curry Leaf plant
Will keep him happy and buoyant
Through the hard winters
Of Central New York
Once
He cooked a
Pure Vegetarian lunch
With handmade (ghee fried) puris with cauliflower curry
Made me totally feel at home –
A home away from the Indian subcontinent

He was such a sweet
Bengali friend; I miss you
Rather, we all miss you
So early, so soon
We can’t utter goodbye now
Barely we’ve started understanding each other
Yet we must …
Wish you the best on the onward journey

Copyright 2025 by the author

Remembering our Father

Father’s Day (Third Sunday in June in US) in the modern times is strange. It tries to make a commercial nonentity of a purely personal relationship. How can there be a single day for remembering billions of fathers across the globe, living or nonliving?

I remember our father throughout the year, in fact in every instance while looking into a mirror; but the season in the winter months (हेमन्त ऋतु) makes my eyes moist with some tender poignant memories of the bygone years. In India one can seek the help of a priest and observe parents’ anniversaries with due diligence. Such facilities are available at Kasi, Gaya, Pithapuram  (గయాసుర పాదగయ), and many other places. The Raghavendra Swamy temple also offers such services throughout the year.  In US we run into difficulties for finding qualified priests in smaller towns and remote suburbs.

Posterity often thinks of fathers and forefathers in terms of money, inheritance, assets, physical attributes (particularly those in the filmdom), or even some fragment of talent (IQ, musical ability, etc.).  But in an ephemeral world what is lasting? Monies have been lost, lands lose fertility, buildings decay lacking proper maintenance, and physical beauty also takes a beating due to the ravages of time. We must remember fathers for those unique intangible qualities which no test tube or Artificial Intelligence (AI) can gift us freely. Here, in this short note I try to capture my father’s personality and give a faithful portrait of his sensitive nature.

Father was very soft and caring. Often he would spontaneously shed a tear at the plight of a beggar, a disease stricken person, or at times he would melt away at our own endless family problems. Whatever be the issue, in a real trouble he would seek the help from Lord Siva – leaving (discarding) aside all the mean earthly bosses or rich relatives. Now as I recollect my childhood and college days I often wonder and exclaim thus: What a marvelous courageous human being! A lesser man would have lost hope and despaired, become despondent. No, not our father – he was an embodiment of true grit and bubbling spirit.

Every year he would take me to a fully qualified doctor and get annual medical checkup. Father was always very apprehensive of the coastal mosquito bite (malaria, now the dengue and other variants) particularly the filarial vector. Not to lose sleep over such unexpected calamities he took me to a pharmacist (P. Rao) and got me a full dose of prophylactic injections. We used to see several people in the neighborhood suffering from the debilitating effects of the disease (filariasis). Such medical visits kept me healthy during formative years; the practice taught me to respect the body and its routine maintenance.

He was much ahead of the modern medical modalities, often incorporating alternate therapy whenever it is available. Once he approached a village herbal doctor for my pestering skin problem. The herbalist solved the issue with one dose of medication; earlier I had consulted a dermatologist in a big city hospital to no avail. I wish I had helped my father with his medical tests and screenings; unfortunately I was away from my native place for most of my studies. Still I feel very lucky to be very close to our father. Often he would confide in me about his routine screenings like cholesterol or high blood pressure.

Father always supported me in my (higher) studies; he made me concentrate (with valid reasons) on studies to the exclusion of everything else. When I was struggling in fourth grade with routine math (long divisions by hand) he arranged tutorial help for the summer two-month recess; it was so intensive and timely godsend that by July, I was thoroughly prepared and proficient for the high school entrance exam (VI grade). In college when I got abnormally low marks in chemistry exam father came to our city and met with my professor to discuss the matter. Later I changed my major – and in the long scheme of things it did not affect my professional career.

His zeal for life and his approach to life’s mundane problems is very unique. Once he had some mild apprehension about the advancing years or an irritating pain due to tooth cavity. Father gently asked a visiting Swami (true Sanyasi) for guidance. The Swami replied nonchalantly thus: “Nothing to worry, any way you trust Lord Siva. Just do the “mrutyanjaya mantra” or recite Chandrasekhara-ashtakam. All worries gone.” For a person who visited Srisailam several times during Maha-Sivaratri festival that simple direct suggestion was enough. He never expressed any fear in life. That toothache, it got resolved with Dabur toothpowder (Lal Danta Manjan), so I think now. Interestingly father (my parents) gave me a big endowment: Excellent eyesight, strong functional natural teeth, and very adroit hands to work on gardening, handy repairs, or instruments.

Lastly I want to mention about bhakti and ethics. Per se, father never instructed me about morals, virtues, or character. As children we just learned from his exemplary character. With very little financial means he traveled the entire length and breadth of India – from Kasi to Kalahasti, from Gokarna to Puri. He remembered our ancestors (grand parents) and faithfully observed their anniversaries fully according to the tradition (scriptural instructions). Father used to gently goad me to visit our local temple every Saturday. Whenever possible I would perform (aided by our priest) puja at the temple on the Masa Sivaratri day – it was all due to my father’s gentle persuasion. Both my parents were lionhearted and full of optimism. Of all the qualities I cherish most is father’s indomitable spirit. My parents (like many of the earlier generations) had that rare quality of total (inner spiritual) contentment; they faced the vicissitudes of life with a smile. To this day it is wonder for me how our father achieved so much in life with so little formal education, meager financial resources, and unhelpful relatives; yet, he provided amply for his family and succeeded both here in the mundane world and hereafter. That was a hard scrappy south India in those days - without government handouts. A wild daffodil will bloom anywhere, every season. Copyright 2025 by the author

Coping with Accidental Falls

Coping with Accidental Falls

The physical body is like a chariot or car; we cannot do anything without the delicate physical body. So, we must be utterly careful about its health, mobility, and the psychological moods. Nowadays the family physicians (General Practice, Geriatric) are a bit more attuned to the needs of elderly people. At every annual checkup visit the family physician keeps asking about any physical fall, a trip, surgery, or injury to the head. Some home visiting nurses or doctors advise the patients about “fall avoidance”. They say: “Try not to keep any loose or slippery rugs on the floor. Make sure the bathroom tiles are rough to prevent slips. Put friction pads on polished floors or steps. Keep the bar soap away from the slippery floor. Hold on to sturdy bars or wall supports while taking showers. Always use the banister (side bar) while climbing the stairs, etc.” But any advice, even a well intentioned professional one can go only so far; much more valuable things we learn through the stern master of “experience”, sadly after paying the painful dues.

Now, what to do in a real life accidental fall? First we have to seek grace from our “guru” (or Ishta-devata, इष्ट देवता)  in such terrible situations. I may, with ample humility share some of my own terrible mistakes to shed some light on this problem. With age our bones become brittle – a number of factors conspire to arrive at the “brittle bone” condition. Lack of calcium (with vitamin D and other minerals) or poor nutrition is one contributing factor. Poor physical activity and hormonal changes also produce brittle bones. As young children we (my sister and I) just lived on potable water and clean air. Mother’s pure affection compensated for all the missing nutritional elements – lack of milk, protein, essential minerals, or fresh fruits. My own excellent eyesight (not to crow) and dental health is a testament to my formative years in the village (bless our parents). Much later in the college father took pains of providing nourishing milk and fresh tasty yogurt (curd). But even that modest correction of calcium was minimal and sparse. 

Though I experienced several falls or slips over the years luckily I escaped the broken bones situations. Once I was swinging on the front wooden (hinged) door and lost my grip. I fell down on the hard dirt floor near the porch. In the bygone era we used to improvise and play with whatever we could find. I escaped with a minor wrist dislocation. The local village doctors (Puttur Rajus massage and physical therapy) fixed it with a soft muslin cloth bandage and oil (cow ghee) massage. I owe much of my education and professional career to those lovely doctors and physical therapists. They did not take a single penny (paisa) for the orthopedic care; they politely refused payment from a young school going lad across the street, down the block. Such was their magnanimous spirit, extraordinary generosity.

In school days I had many more falls during bicycle riding – it was part of a learning process. Many of those falls were minor, with scratch on the shin or elbow. Some of the falls produced deep wounds with bleeding cuts. Again I escaped without breaking any bones; that saved the day for me. Luckily father never reproached me for such minor accidents. As I look back on those very active vigorous physical exercise days my only regret now is merely the lack of “basic first aid box” at home. A quick wash with alcohol and dressing with tincture of iodine (Povidone, Dettol, Bacitracin) would have kept my cuts dry and free of infection. In the highly humid coastal Andhra I would often get into complications with superficial wound infection. Many a time simple cuts or scratches on my skin used to grow into big septic wounds – an eyesore for several weeks, a sure curiosity arouser for all my classmates.

Recently we witnessed firsthand the disastrous effects of falls in our family. Three of our sister-in-laws experienced bone fractures due to accidental falls. In later advanced years surgeries or casts become very complicated and burdensome. In some cases doctors refuse orthopedic surgeries and weeks of postoperative confinement in bed. Prolonged inactivity or lying in bed increases the chance of blood clots and bedsores. All this analysis is to impress on adults (and elderly seniors) to stay physically active and continue with regular walks, stretching, or yoga etc. Also, we must assiduously try not to run or trip over loose water hoses, electric cables, extension cords, or furniture while we walk around or rush to attend a door bell. There is no need to run to the door and trip resulting in a bone fracture. Things can wait; a healthy mobile body is more valuable than meeting some one quickly at the front door. If Panduranga did not rush to the door to greet Sri Krishna, why should we hurriedly run to the front door for a mundane call? Accidental fall may usher us into a new “troublesome chapter” in life. It may, in some unfortunate cases lead to permanent disability or wheel chair confinement.

But we can certainly avoid such pitfalls with the help of a cane, walking stick, or a walker; yet this simple instruction is easier said than done. What are the other physical infirmities that contribute to poor balance and persistent falls? Here are some factors: Loss of hearing, poor vision (particularly peripheral acuity), dizziness, sudden changes in blood pressure (low), weakness, low blood sugar (often occurs with poor blood glucose control), dehydration, or nausea. Sudden acute cardiac events (angina, abnormal rhythm, electrical pulses, vagus nerve) or strokes can also lead to catastrophic imbalances and loss of body strength. To this we have to add the foot problems too: Hammer toe, deformed foot, improper arch, etc.

I will conclude with my own (limited) experiences with physical falls. On the steps of Pinakini River in Andhra I lost balance and fell on my back. I was a bit careless, did not notice (rather appreciate) the slippery moss on the river steps. But the sandy bank protected my head and I escaped without a scratch – thanks due to the presiding Lord Narayana (Sri Ranganayaka). Once during the wee hours I slipped and fell on the stairs with a transistor radio in my hand; then too I got saved due to the soft carpet on the stairs. But there was some other invisible grace guarding me all along. Another time I fainted in the bathroom due to extreme dehydration or stomach upset. Miraculously I regained consciousness after ten or fifteen minutes. Very recently this writer accidentally slipped from a swing while playing with children. It was totally unexpected and I badly hurt my shoulder, neck, and back. Fortunately the playground was filled with wood chips and that saved me from serious hard knocks on the head or bone joints. Still the recovery took more than three weeks. Only after lot of physical stretching, yoga, and repeated oil massage I got a complete relief from the chronic pain, joint aches, and stiff muscles. The over-the-counter pain medication did not help much. Again I pay my umpteen salutations (नमस्कार) to the guru and the Lord of Seven Hills.

I share some of my own difficulties with the body out of pure concern for others. I do not imply any gloating, any special privilege, or luck. Even in the best of times and circumstances “falls” can and do happen. There is a saying in America, it goes somewhat like this: “When you fall off a horse, get back in the saddle”. Similar injunction applies to the body also. We should simply forget about the fall and try to nurse the delicate physical body back to shape without dwelling too much on the misfortune. This article was prepared without using any of the modern AI tools. Copyright 2025 by the author

Lyrics of "Adi modi" Song

ఆడ మో(డి)డీ  గలదే రామయ్యమాట 

రాగం: చారుకేశి 

తాళము: దేశాది 

ఆడమోడి గలదే రామయ్యమాట ॥లా॥

తోడునీడ నీవె యనుచు భక్తితో

గూడి పాదములఁ బట్టిన మాట ॥లా॥

చదువులన్ని దెలిసి శంకరాంశుఁడై

సదయుఁ డాశుగ సంభవుండు మ్రొక్క

గదలు తమ్ముని బల్కఁ జేసితివి

గాకను త్యాగరాజేనాటి    (naa)టి మాట ॥లా॥

aaDamODi galadae raamayyamaaTa 

raagaM: chaarukaeSi

taaLaM: daeSaadi

pallavi:

aaDamODi galadae raamayyamaaTa || laa || 

anu pallavi:

tODuneeDa neeve yanuchu bhaktitO@M

gooDi paadamula@M baTTinamaaTa || laa || 

charaNamu(lu)

chaduvulanni delisi SaMkaraaMSu@MDai

sadayu@MDaaSuga saMbhavuMDu mrokka

gadalu tammuni balka@M jaesitivi

gaakanu tyaagaraajae paaTi maaTa || laa || 

The English transliteration was generated by Lekhini. I follow the lyrics given in the small booklet by Gollapudi Publishers. Ms. Syama Sundari edited the Telugu lyrics. I find both versions (one due to Dr. Balamurali and another by M. S. Subbulakshmi) flawless. Though I kept on humming this song for many years only recently I stumbled on its real meaning; it gifted me a rare insight into Sri Rama and made me dwell more into the real feeling of bhakti. In some instances of life reaching the goal is not the point. Staying steadfastly on the path and pursuing without any wavering is very difficult; and to continue without any doubt, despair, that requires extraordinary patience. Here is the link for audio: M S version

Meaning of the song was given in the previous post here. 

Copyright 2025 by the author

Meaning of "Adi modi galade" Song

Chaduvulanni = all fields of knowledge; d(t)elisi = knowing, having mastered; Sankara + amsudai = born with the essence (an aspect) of Sankara, taken the earthly form with Sankara’s qualities; sadayudu = compassionate, kind hearted; asuga = the god of wind; sambhavundu = offspring, son of; mrokka = prayed, saluted;

“I keep following You (Rama) with devotion as a faithful shadow, remain faithfully attached to Your feet – yet You hardly say a word or reply even a syllable. What a wonder! Your reticent attitude has no parallel, O Rama.”

Lord Hanuman, being none other than a scion (portion) of the great compassionate Sankara (Lord Siva) approached You with a respectful salute (namaskar) in the forest. Then look what happened – You made tactical agreements with Sugriva (brother of Vali) for the ultimate war with king Ravana. With such a background, who gives any importance to Tyagaraja? Who cares about lesser mortals like Tyagayya? In such circumstances is there any chance (luck) for lesser humans? If Hanuman ji got such a short shrift of treatment, where is the chance for a positive response to Tyagaraja? Where is the possibility for any response to the composer’s endless beseeching, pleading? In such dire unpredictable situations where is the possibility of better luck for the composer? Or, who is Tyagayya to receive any better treatment at the hands of Rama? What is the status of Tyagayya in the hierarchy (totem pole) of great many bhaktas of Rama? This point is worth pondering for all the Carnatic singers, Rama bhaktas, and ardent devotees. There are some passages in Sri Ramakrishna’s biography (scribed by M) where we find similar incidents; Devi Kali mata was on the premises of Dakshineswar temple, in the gardens but She was busy in Her own playful acts with other goddesses. 

Often the Guru tries to instill in the disciple the value of “patience or perseverance” (saburi). We have to read, listen, and sing a lot to appreciate this essential quality. Depending on one’s taste (or bend of mind) one can choose any of the nine modes of bhakti. Many times we try to visit sacred places, rivers, or temples; but we succeed only in a select few of our undertakings. And even such rare successes are precious gifts for us. We must try to utilize all our energies, enthusiasm, and time to see rare (one-of-a-kind) swamis and ancient pilgrim places; such acts should be done preferably when one is young, able bodied, and full of bubbling energy. A kind parent, relative, or friend may prod us to do such unusual religious (or faith based) acts. Now “the world is too much with us”; every act is oriented towards material benefit or physical pleasure. But when one is bedridden, sick, injured, or inconsolably sad, who will help us? At times we may be unconscious with severe bodily pain, at such desperate moments who will come to our rescue? This is a thought for all – young and elderly. Bad luck can befall on anyone, at any time. That’s why we try to save and store some smidgen of “prayer, meditation, and japa” for future. We keep a ‘rainy day fund’ in bank for emergency use. Similarly we must keep some savings of spiritual endeavor for future. Even recalling Hari’s name at the right time (a true crisis) is very difficult; here we must appreciate the good fortune of King Gajendra (see Srimad-Bhagavatam) for having good mental faculties even in the midst of excruciating pain. There, then in the slippery muddy pond he was in the cruel jaws of the crocodile; the crocodile was mercilessly goring his sensitive toes with its nasty sharp teeth. By then the elephant was on his last ounces of energy, totally dehydrated and utterly hungry. The mammoth mammal was on the verge of total collapse and drifting into delirium. It was losing consciousness. And then suddenly due to its past virtuous karma (tapas) the elephant suddenly remembered Hari (with His qualities) and surrendered to His grace. 

None of us are like the Kanchi Paramacharya. The Swami could undergo cataract surgery without anesthesia. At another time the celebrated walking guru did extended tapas sitting in the midst of five fires (పంచాగ్నులు) while running high bodily fever. Such extraordinary circumstances can make the mind focus acutely on Hari’s name; but many ordinary bhaktas cannot achieve such pointed concentration. Soul stirring full throated vocal singing of great compositions or bhajans also provides peace and total communion with Sri Rama. That is all one can do – be it in times of happiness or utter despair.    

Elsa's Tiera (Poem)

Elsa’s Tiara

It was the day after
Halloween
On a stroll to nearby
Flatbush Coop or Supermarket 
There on the sidewalk
Lies a worn tiara – 
Elsa’s Tiara
Probably got shipped from China
All the way crossing thousands
Of knots on the oceans
Surya too
Wore the same silvery plastic coronet
With all the bells and whistles
The full-length floor sweeping
Blue dress with beads, stones
We accompanied her
To the neighborhood Halloween party
Walking gently through the soggy
Sod, lawn patches, and the bushes
The front yards with lights, strobes, and music
Grandmas, uncles, aunts chaperoning
The little ones   

Who
Knows how many hours
Mothers and fathers worked
For the cardboard “B” train
For the shiny golden-white long
Braided hairpiece of Elsa’s
For arranging a fancy party, dress,
And evening goings for their little
Children 
They need the show for their pre-K classes
And evening rounds with plastic pumpkins
And then you’ve to gore the fall yellow 
Fruit and make a scary face
With lamp or candle inside
And then mercilessly discard it into trash
The next day

The modern urban setting
Changes everything it touches
Every custom, festival, or community
Activity or display is for a buck
For the promotion of business
Much of the meaning and most of the 
Original story is lost, sadly

But it was not like that
Certainly decades ago
In our modest village
We had many events
With a purpose
Synchronized to the exact
Lunar position (phase) 
As children
We enacted activities
Imbued with singing, colorful dresses
Original costumes
The teacher escorted us 
Through the street
The children entertained
With a song or two
The master got a five or ten
Rupee note
We’re given toffies, puffed rice,
Jaggery, peanuts, or roasted peas
That was for the Dussera festival
Mind such a celebration 
Occurred only in one or two provinces
It did not span the entire
Indian sub-continent
The modern onslaught 
Of world-wide commerce
Did not arrive yet – putting
Thousands of kids into straightjacket
Cultural mannequins 

Later I remember
Another local village observance
It happens around the
Telugu New Year time
We’d pick a little container
Could be a palm-leaf woven pot
Or, made out of coconut leaves
Or, improvised out of a discarded 
Metal bucket
The ubiquitous plastic (PVC) 
Wasn’t there yet
And would fill it with garden soil
Oh, what a fertile soil it was
Right on the banks of Godavari
You got to see it to believe it -
The coastal nature’s fecundity!  
And then gently sprinkle
The nine types of beans
Bought from the local grocer
Just a block away
And then, despite my immeasurable grief
(Due to a
Sudden family catastrophe) 
I watered the little pot
Daily twice, once in the morning
And once in the evening
And watched it sprout and grow
With all my love and care
The sprouts reached about
Knee high or so
And then we had to
Carry it to the local
 Poleramma (Devi) temple
And offer it to the “ad-hoc priest”
The whole temple was filled with
Green color
Decorated with lots of potted
Feet long
Sprouts – both inside and outside
The entire temple looked
Like a nice beautiful green earth
A multilevel hanging garden
The entire village gathered
There 
And that was the only
Custom 
I still think has
Profound meaning
Of devotion, gratitude,
And piety
Without a single 
Chant or mantra –
That act alone saved me
As I wistfully rue now

Copyright 2025 by the author