Makar Sankranti on the sand dunes of Kasai Ganga

A large number of people of all ages were gathered there on the sprawling sands. All able-bodied men and women were there. There was a medley of music in the air. Processions with women carrying images of Tusu were converging. Many people were making merry in the shallow waters. There was a boy jumping into knee-deep water. There was a girl swimming and bathing in the river without in any way compromising with her modesty. There were some older boys having a swimming race in these shallow waters. At one place, there were two friendly rival groups, singing with reference to Tusu but also contriving to taunt their opponents. There were two boys playing with their dog.

Amidst all these sights and sounds something caught my eyes. There was a light playing about on the surface of the waters. I saw the same light on the faces of the people gathered, including the drunkard who was dancing between the rival groups. Then I caught the source of that light. It was a little girl flitting about amidst all these people with lightning speed. She smiled at me as I caught her eye.

‘I’m Kasai, a daughter of Bharati’ she said.

‘You’re wonderful’ I exclaimed.

‘You’ll see more wonders. You’ll meet my sisters too’ she said.

Soon there were shouts of sisters calling each other’s names. The names Ganga, Kaveri, Bihu, Narmada, etc. could be heard. But I could discern a note of sadness. There was excitement as Bharati appeared, ‘Your children will soon come to senses, those callous money worshipers too. You’ll all be reinvigorated’ she said.

Let’s not pollute our life springs.

Swami Sampurnananda

Genre 273, No. 36, Kuthia veranda, 
15 Jan 2004, 3.47 p.m.