Ritual and Real

Place a stone under any banyan tree, Decorate flowers of all sorts around; Apply crimson or sandal-paste or ghee; Hide, to witness, how devotees abound...! Stick-incense smokes spread with nose-drilling scent, Oil-lamps lit, by men and women unknown, Heaps of coins, like hills and peaks, soon ascend, Faces shine, masks of blind faith balloon-blown...! Tent erected; Altar constructed; hymns broadcast, Priests pop up, like white termites after rains; Grab all gifts as though, for self, God had asked, Rational beings laugh at their lost brains...! This is frequent in my precious nation, Midst her classical wisdom abundant; Pull of heart toward easy salvation, Drowns our masses into myths inundant...! Rituals, like rocks, heavily weigh down, Blood-cum-heart chain-like link with the divine; Wisdom, not blind faith, should become true crown, Shouldn't new wine-skins be filled with new wine...? 18 November 2022