English Literature – Poetry – ☆ Mahanavratri Special – Listen ladies ☆ – Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM

Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM

(We are extremely thankful to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for sharing his literary and artworks with e-abhivyakti. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, Capt. Pravin has served the country at national as well international level in various fronts. Presently, working as Senior Advisor, C-DAC in Artificial Intelligence and HPC Group; and involved in various national-level projects.

(We present an English Version of Ms. Nirdesh Nidhi’s Hindi poem ☆ सुनो स्त्रियों ☆ published in today’s issue . We extend our heartiest thanks to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for this beautiful translation. )

☆ Listen ladies ☆

Today is the auspicious

day of *Mahalaya*

And today your

eyes will be embellished…

As you were told

Right in the early phase of civilizations that

*Yatra Narayastu Pujyante Ramante Tatra Devata*

(…where women are worshiped, there deities visit…)

You were assumed to

be that goddess

Whose entire body

was molded

in her most beautiful form

Except that

the eyes were left

The eyes that could see the casting of someone’s

ominous eyesight on you…

Could show you the pitfalls on the road

Also, could sense the

good and bad for you,

And, why wouldn’t they show after the embellishment!!

Even the huge stones

—always stumbling block in conquering the summit…

Would now make the journey safe…

For your unmade eyes

Consider the end of millennium long Pitrapaksh* today

Today is the auspicious day of *Mahalaya*

And, today only your eyes will be embellished

So that you can see all that which is good, and

Has been in your interest for centuries…

The perilous pits will now be negotiated safely,

in which you used to fall repeatedly,

being vision-less…

And, the huge stones,

always a stumbling block,

dare not venture anymore against your steely resolve

to reach the destination…

Today is the auspicious day of *Mahalaya* and

Today is the day of embellishment of your eyes…

**Mahalaya* —The sculptors complete the idols of the Goddess Durga during the festival of Durga Puja, except the eyes, which they leave, to be installed after the Pitra Paksha. The eyes of the goddess are installed in *Mahalaya*, so that the statue of goddess is completed and installed in pandals for the worship.

**Pitra paksh* lunar day period in Hindu calendar when Hindus pay homage to their ancestor, especially through food offerings.