Happy Sankranthi Poem by Umasree Raghunath

Sankranthi, the synonym to the light from the sun
With the glowing days, radiant rays and unending fun
Bhogi burning away the evil, old and bad from hearts and homes
Pongal restarting the new recipes, new things and new hopes
Thanking the sun god for the gift of Nature
Saluting Mother Earth for the beds of fields it bore
Welcoming the new waters that wetted our fields
Taking home the grains and the weeds
Thanks to the cattle that bore the pains
And to the people all who were there in the gains
Welcome haridas singing Bhagwans enchanting lyrics
Wonderful rangolies of the women fold around
The smell of freshness and aroma of fresh food
Smiles on farmers faces make us feel good
Some parts of the coast they decorate homes with dolls
As the begin of the festival seas unfolds and falls
The long strings of the banana leaves and mango groves
The beautiful first sari's of the little girls
The fresh show of the moustaches on the boys
Hiding behind the temple bells
And the fresh waters in our wells
It's the beginning of a New Year with zest
And rekindling of the festival spirit and harvest
Who could beat the artists of the village folk?
Can the west ever take over and win the zallikatu
Or the women dances with the colourpots on the heads
There should be a new race born to overbeat the horse dance
Can the star hotels beat the taste of the sweet rice?
That cooked in the new pots with new rice under sun
The young brides dancing in the swings near the waters
Is more bright and beautiful than the western bold and beautiful
How I wish I were in the little town I was born
As the season of Sankranthi had its dawn
For the Pongal now meant a special program day on Television
Cooker Pongal, eating little sugar cane, and missing real fun
Rituals were following to add spice to our lives
And sentiments and superstitions always had a scientific meaning
Ignoring this we are really heading towards a nonchalanting world
Forgetting ethics, principles, finally happiness that was in times old
Lets refresh the spirits and minds and enjoy the festival in the real festive way!