In the midst of a tropical forest

The mouth of a long extinct volcano,

Surrounded by hills not so high

Bordered by lush trees and bushes,

Is the seat of a sparkling lake

That undulates in little waves

In direction of the prevailing winds

Reflects the azure blue of the clear sky

The bright rays of the sun during the day

And white shines of stars and the moon at night.

Before men had set their eyes on the lake

Angels danced on its pristine shore

To the tunes of the breeze on moonlight nights;

When a dream revealed the sight to a soul

And slim pathways were threaded to the lake

Angels no more plied to the sacred site,

But thousands of men flocked to the spot for prayers

And on the eve of Maha Shivaratree

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims tread to the lake

To source sacred water to pour on Lord Shiva.

All year round, tourists converge to the lake

To stroll around this sacred site

Charm their eyes with its unique tapestry

And snap shots of its picturesque beauty

To relish as memento of their trip

And cherish as a divine work of art

Legated to this tropical island

By the graceful Divinity

Who dropped a piece of paradise

In midst of the Indian Ocean.

Sincere and heartfelt wishes

To all pilgrims striding to the sacred lake

For a pious Maha Shivaratree

And a blissful inner journey

With the blessings of Lord Shiva

Bio

Krishnanand Guptar

Former Financial Secretary and Financial Adviser at the Ministry of Finance, he has developed a keen interest for poetry, particularly for philosophical, spiritual, divine, motivational and inspirational poems. He has published several collections of poems.