A Desert Onam--By Feby Joseph--India

A Desert Onam

The waft of boiling pulses and sambar¹

Permeate the entire house.

Preparing itself for the arrival of the King²

With Pookkalams³ and Golden rain flowers

And nine course meals on Banana leaves.

For this is the one day we forget

Our toils and grievances.

Today we are at home.

Today we forget that we are in this desert.

Today we are in our God’s own Country.

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¹ South-Indian Vegetable stew

² The Keralite Onam festival celebrates [beloved] King Mahabali’s annual visit to his kingdom.

³ A floral carpet

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Feby Joseph hails from the coastal state of Kerala in South India. He's a science graduate, with a passion for western classical music, a computer certification, a piano certification and currently working in the Finance department in Saudi Arabia. This pretty much summarizes his meandering journey so far which has led to false stops; although the destination remains forever music!