Gajan, Shiva Gajan Poem by Bijay Kant Dubey

I can see the bhoktas,
Shiva bhaktas on an outing
During the night time,
Bare-bodied and in dhoti
And with a thin linen towel
Over the shoulders,
The bhoktas,
Shiva bhaktas
With the thin bamboo sticks
On an outing
With the band,
The petromax lights,
Going to the crematorium
To collect the logs,
Maintaining austerity,
Celibacy,
Abstaining from
Living like Shiva,
Leading unto Him,
Don't mind, don't care
Like Him,
Taking the gymnastic exercises,
The bhaktas swinging,
Rolling over the prickly leaves
And twigs in the temple complex,
Crossing over fire,
Praying to Shiva in utter submission,
Offering
And pouring water,
Milk, ghee and others
Over the lingam.

The word gajan may be it garjan, roar,
The roar of the sanyasins,
The village folk as the hermits
Maintaining cleibacy
During the time of festivity
Of the last of Chaitra
Leading to the herald of Baisakh,
The Bengali new year,
Poila Baisakh,
Maybe it the sanyasins are the men
Of the bridegroom party
Of Shiva going to marry Harakali,
Whatever be that
The gala and gaiety is remarkable,
The bhoktas going,
Shiva bhaktas
And with the drums
And the band,
I mean the sanyasins
And the festivity ending
With the Charak Puja,
Also known as the Nil Puja
To satisfy Shiva,
Devadhidev, the Lord of the Lords.