The other sides of the table aren’t that lavish as your side might be,
At the other side of the table there will not be an excess of curry.
The puris and bhajis and the halwas that you so dearly eat,
Please do not throw them in the dust bin as there are others who too want to eat!
Walking down the pink city,
I hear the shehnaais and smell the sweet meat.
I take a turn into the gali just to get a peek,
I do not see the women in shimmery sarees
I see the children with ***** hands.
They have been rampaging through the bins and run helter- skelter on the instance of an intrusive sound.
The dogs are brave,
At least they don’t flee when they see me…
But, those children are embarrassed to be disturbed while they searched the trash for a small bite!
I wonder if the brides and the grooms ever thought
That the amount of happiness they spread through the lavish four course buffets,
Are but, going to be discarded by people who ate too much.
These remnants are then tossed and picked carefully through these bins
The children have an almost mechanical drive when picking and tossing through trash heaps
The food that you waste is but, a filling meal!
Do not waste food; instead, Share it with your neighborhood kid!
Food that has been cooked for too many and eaten by too Few.
Should not be Discarded into the dust bin,
As, its perfectly fine to Reuse, Reduce and Recycle!
-Meghna Chatterji
Voices from Behind the Shining Wedding Pandals!