Ganpati Bappa Morya

(photo by Kavi Arasu)

One hand
clutching
up the saree pleats,
the other
holding
wallets
pants,
shirts,
shorts,
tees and
towels,
she waits
behind this pair.




Father and son
wading into the sea
with Ganpati Bappa
bidding
Him goodbye
as
He starts off
on his return journey.

But like for Mumbaikars,
the Lord too,
suffers
from traffic
of debris,
dried flowers,
thermocole
and
plaster of paris
in anatomy,

Battling
the incoming waves
together with his images
large and small,
shaking His head
wondering
how to tell
that
more than
loud amplified stotras
songs of devotion
and
public dances,
a child
lisping
Ganpati Bappa Morya
eyeing the Modaks
and clapping
on his grandpa's lap
was
what he looked forward to....