The early dawn was inviting everyone to come to the village temple. Amidst the lush green groves of pines and alpines it opened the doors of heaven for them. The lilies and fragrant marigold in multiple colors naturally made it an abode for divine. 10 Km far it was from Bramhali, the temple, and yet everyday they would go and offer their prayers to Mother Kaza.
Today, they had kept a grand festival for the beginning of a new year that would assure of their prosperity and growth in the entire year. Vegetation and crops; rain and flow of water, enabling them to live in this sylvian setting in comfort and carefree way, least worried about the worries of the unknown future.
With in the temple, incense sticks and lit of camphor had made the fragrance reach every place. And garlands of marigold had adorned and embellished every wall. Bandhanwar from ashoka leaves spread across each door. Chimes and bells with conch shell were ready to be played by all.
A veena was kept of antique piece that the villagers believed have been passed onto their generation by the deity herself and that being the most auspicious, they would only play it once in a year at the commencement of the new year. Two months prior, the preparations would start when they would clean the entire temple and take care of smallest of painting of mother Kaza. The roof of the temple was painted with the lores of her bravery and courage.
In one painting she was depicted saving a villager from the wild attack of animals and in another, she was taking care of their crops and vegetation. On the roof, she was spreading her light and on the side walls, she was holding the hands of little children. She represented an emblem of attributes and virtues.
Her statue had been of white sangmarmar, adorned with chandan and roli. She was clad in red and yellow clothes made with their traditional weave of crisscross thread work and wore all gold jewelry. Once someone from the outside had tried to steal the ornaments but the lore said Goddess asked him of his need and when he unveiled of his dire need of taking care of his sick father, she blessed him with wealth and blessings galore. Since then, nothing of this happened and whenever in need, she always provided her help to villagers in one form or the other.
Today, they were all gathered to witness this grand festival of the new year at Bramhali and taste the mahabhogam prasadam halwa after the offerings being made to mother Kaza.
They all sang in unison ….
Thou are divine, saviour of our lives
We pray to you O Mother for your grace and peace sublime
You are present in the beginning, leading to the end
In regeneration of the blade of the grass, to taking care of the galaxies in the cosmos
You are the giver and the taker of everything that we have and we posses
O Mother Kaza when you smile the rain drops bless us
You are the creator and the supreme being
For our lives and each breath we surrender at your holy abode
You give each breath, you take away when life releases it’s force
You are present in every atom and home of Bramhali
O Mother Kaza we live and pray blissfully at thy lotus feet !
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