From the time immemorial,
a full bloomed Lotus
in Odisha “Chilika” is…

By its panoramic
and scenic splendor
like bees, get stretched,
the tourists,
both local and from overseas..
Pilgrims come
to relish beauty and
bow before deity…

The whitish aura of winter
here seems vibrant..
The permanent avian nest
forms a paradise
for winged guests
and displays nature’s bounty…

Surrounded by bluish water
it’s an island divine…

But a matter of surprise
instead of their reflections,
maidens on the surface of
the deep lake,
see a divine face…

With the touch of lake’s water
devotees feel a floating legend
the saga of a tragedy,
the tale of Jai…

Along with her father
newly-wed bride
was on the boat
to her in-laws’..

What a horrid trend??
With his own sweat and blood
a gardener helps a flower bloom..
And like huntsmen
in-laws pluck her,
and she has to go
to an alien empire…

A Floridian day it was..
Looking gorgeous
her ruby costume,
to the envy of Robins …

Unexpectedly became perilous
the brazen,sanguine sky
and jeopardized the lake…

Scary became the
chorus of birds…
Darker than shadow
the sun seemed…
As if the puffs of a phantom,
body felt the wind…

With a drastic cyclone
they encountered…
Like a frond the daughter shivered,
and the father time and again
consoled her,
to wisely tackle the situation
appealed to the boatman…

But Alas!!
The boat capsized…
The floating dazzling veil
announced a cruel mishap…

All escaped
except the bride…
A father lost his daughter,
a sweet love got melted,
forever…

Swiftly began to shine
as an innocent,
the unabashed sun..
Blood stained looked the sky…
As ignorant the bluish water
behaved…
Serene Environs
came to her usual throne…

As if all were pre-planned….
In the veil of Nature
caused by
the background criminal,
the brutal fate…

But to atone for her sins
perhaps Nature
made Jai Goddess Kalijai,
the reigning deity of the lagoon…

Invoking her blessing these days
sailors venture out…
From all catastrophe she saves,
as a belief goes there..

Today also many claim…
A long wailing is heard
in the dark night,
that is of Mother Kalijai…
Not for her tragic death…

But perhaps against
the bad custom
that still governs the girl’s lives…

Not horrifying,
rather it’s the symphony of life,
in which natives
feel Goddess’ presence
and feel secured..

The largest brackish lake
of this continent
is turning more salty,
say the scientists…
Perhaps due to her tears…

More and more salty
it will be ,
till the society eradicates
the evil trend…