Just two words – “I do”

Just two words – “I do”

Today as I take your hand in mine at the altar of God
I realize that we are entering into everlasting partnership blessed by the Lord
The ring is a symbol of our endless love
I feel so blessed as I slip it onto your finger sealing our marriage vows
Getting married is something more than just saying “ I do”
It means being by your side always no matter what you are going through

Marriage is a sacred ceremony by which “You” and “ I” become “We”
I promise I will think more in terms of “You” and “We” and less of “I” and “Me” 
You and I shall learn and grow in marriage together
We shall sail in this boat of life, be it through storms or sunny weather
I know I am no longer free to do as I please
But that does not mean that I am in bondage and should frown and freeze

From this day I pledge to share with you my space, my life, my heart and my love and all that I own
I shall never make you feel lonely ; I need you very much to make my house a home.
Trust, love, care and faith are all but mere words until they are put to use
I shall try my best to practise them and also not blow my fuse
The secret of a happy married life is being slow to anger and quick to forget and forgive 
I would rather receive less from you and prefer to more give

We shall walk down the road of marriage hand in hand
I promise never to let you down in these times of shifting sands
You can always count on me; I shall catch you before you fall
In between you and me there will be no secrets, no doubts and no walls
From this day I pledge to worship you with my body, mind, heart and soul
Today two separate incomplete halves have joined together to become a complete whole

What God has joined together let no man put asunder
I give you my word; I shall always try my best to be understanding and tender
The Holy Family is the ideal one that we should get inspired by
With you by my side, I am sure the limit of our marital bliss is nothing but the sky 
So I take your hand in mine and say earnestly from the bottom of my heart “I do”
When I look into your beautiful eyes, I know your love for me is true.

-Poem composed by Deepa S Aiyar

 II    Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah  II

Lord Ganesha

It is once again Ganesh Chaturthi

A very special time for Lord Ganapathy

Devotees bring Him home with great fanfare

He is Vignaharata- the Lord who takes care

Of your troubles and obstacles –It is good to have His Grace

He is Gajanana - the Lord with the elephant face

He is short, fat and huge bellied

He is very wise and looks very jolly

Based on Sage Vyasa ‘s dictation  He wrote the Mahabharata

The son of Parvati – He is known as Gaurisuta or Umaputra

He is Lambakarna- the Lord with large ears

He is there with you; therefore cast away all your fears

His name is also Bhalchandra-the Lord with the crest of the moon

If you pray to Him sincerely, your troubles will end soon

He has a curved trunk and a single tusk

His vahana (vehicle) is the mouse from dawn to dusk

He loves laddoos  and can’t resist the Modak

He crushed Kubera’s pride and ego to mere dust

He is the Lord with a thousand names

Reciting them daily will give you wealth, name and fame

We bow down to Lord Ganesha before we begin anything auspicious

In Maharashtra, Vinayak Chaturthi is the main festival which is very religious

After Ganesh Chaturthi devotees bid him a great farewell

While some immerse him in the sea, the others in ponds and wells

The enthusiastic crowds dance and sing till they are hoarse

Come again soon next year dear Ganesha to my house

 -Deepa S Aiyar