My Country Of Many Faiths- India Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

Thirty three million Gods -
animate and inanimate,
all manifestations of Brahma
other male Gods-Shiva, Rama, Krishna
goddesses-Laxmi, Sita, Durga and many more
in the temples every morning worshiped
with incense sticks, flowers, constant ceremonies
festivals, pilgrimages to holy places,
a dip in the waters of River Ganga
to wash away the sins, invite forgiveness;
beliefs upon actions, elevating honesty, truth
-seeking a direction of living-by goodness;
Where will you find all these together in people?
Come to my India where millions of Hindu devotees
stand in unity on river banks and seek blessings.
In the midst of crowded streets of cities
a loud call for prayer from a high minaret
Muslim brothers rush to wash their feet and stand together
in a mosque, touching heads to the ground
reciting prayers together from their hearts.
None ever stop the other to attend the congregation
neither the servant fears the master
neither the master refrains the servant
from praying five times as ordained
encouraging him to go and be devout
for as long as you love God, God loves you back.
Come to my country called India and see unity in divinity….
Above the hillocks, by the fields,
watch the white-chalk painted churches,
how many saints and how many priests
convince each other and the followers to seek
God through Christ by prayers, rosary and holy masses,
Christians with folded hands assemble as church bells ring,
no prejudice or hate when together they sing,
together they stand and chant the hymns of worship;
in their homes dwells peace and understanding.
Come to my India and see various people with various religions
Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsees, Jain, Buddhists
travel in over-crowded local trains touching shoulders
though their faiths are not the same yet they are friends,
without a brawl or scuffle they go on,
they talk, help and share each other's troubles and joys
where will you ever find such fraternity amidst differences?
Come to my India and see thousands of Gods worshiped
with tolerance, secularism and humanity;
Come to my India and live like me
where with reciprocal respect rolls faith, hope and charity
in all our neighbourhoods, and in all our alleys…