Winters in those days

The energy of ramlila and the magnanimity of dusherra used to announce the commencement of winters.

Excitement of opening the big trunk to take blankets, quilts and the sweaters out,
Fun in packing cooler and unpacking the room heater,
Onus of washing big bottles to keep pickles and kanji,
Winter in those days were the busiest time of the year.

Shivering in the mornings,
Watching the vapors condensed when the words came out,
Finding the way to school through foggy streets,
Fighting for the sunlight in prayer assembly,
Convincing Hindi teacher to take the class in the playground,
Rushing to get home before the sun set,
Winters in those days were the difficult time of the year.

Shops stocked with peanuts and jaggery,
Crimson carrot and green spinach dominating the market,
The aroma of gajar ka halwa, rewari and gajak,
The street hawker with the cart of sugarcane juice,
Winters in those days were the time of feasts in the year.

Porch filled with laughter of the knitters and floor covered with entangled strings of colored wools,
The sky looked like a palette with yellow, pink, red, violet orange kites,
The earth looked like a bridal dress with gardens blossomed with the red roses and sun flowers,
Winters in those days were the colorful time of the year.

And at last the warmth of lohiri,
The sacredness of sakranti and
The festivity of holi waved good bye to winters.

Winters in those days were the best time of the year.