Here Comes Navratri - festival of dancing

When the warm sun of autumn
Turns leaves yellow, red and orange
And the shadow of the sun
Brings cool breeze
The festival of dancing,
The festival of Navratri
Comes to the earth

As the evening sun goes down
And the night sky glows
Young boys and girls
Moms, Dads and aunts
Neighbors, and strangers
Come out in the streets

Their beautiful pallu of saris
Flutter in the wind
While their feet move
To the rhythm of drums

Clap, clap, clap
Round and round they go
Swirling in their ghaghra
Dripping with vibrant colors
Yellow and red,
Orange and pink.
Blue, and green
Rainbow of colors
Splashing the shining light

In the dark night

Dots of lights
Spike from the clay pot
Sat in the middle
Flickering in the wind
Dancing in steps

Tap tap tap tap
Hands clap in harmony
Khanak khanak, khanak
Glass bangles jingle
Red, yellow, blue, purple
Violet, pink, marigold

Plop, plop, plop
Feet move in steps
Silver bells of Jhanjhar
Rattle on their feet

Flick, flick, flick,
the lantern shines in the middle
light pokes out of the holes
of the red clay pot

At home, my mom asks me
what would I like to wear
a sari, a ghaghra. or a sharara
i pick a ghaghra that nani made
red with mirrors stitched all around

Dhum dhum dhum dhamak
drums race with hands and feet
tap tap tap
the dhol is hitting
dhuck dhuck, dhuck
let the feet tire out
let the garba go on all night
it is navratri

Tick, tick, tick, tick tick
the dandia sticks hit each other
two large circle of people
young girls and boys
lovers and strangers
friends and neighbors
come out to dance
It is Navratri
The Festival of Dance