Winter Bhakti! (Poem)

(March 2022)

Lucy and I arrive at the Winter bhakti celebration!

Matara the location, an events venue dedicated to Wellness- making it a perfect temporary, Home for us chanters.

We arrived in good time for a warming bowl of ginger and carrot soup..and social time- Lunch!

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A call on the microphone: “kindly tidy away for our afternoon of kirtan”,

It’s a bonus to see a few people with Indian Heritage- India..India dreaming…

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We get guided through breathing awareness and exercises before Tabla Tom and co – The babaji singers shine,

40+ stand , move and dance to the bounce of the bhajan, Om nama Śivaya! The chanter beside me with 30 years experience tells me these Śiva bhajans are perhaps the most powerful.. it’s moving for me as I pray to Siva daily.

Staying with the bhajan, I recall the colleagues I’ve bumped into and my eyes gaze around the hall. Tim Challice in the far corner, our kirtan guide some months ago.

Om