My mother, grandmother, and her mother before
by Sriya Bandyopadhyay
"The tray rotates in a perfect cycle, / As the radiating glow of candles illuminates / Each part of my face."
I feel the flames get closer to my face,
As a copper tray approaches me,
And a calloused finger anoints me with red.
It shocks me and my eyes widen.
I am greeted by my mother and grandmother,
Each on either side of me,
Closing their eyes and chanting a hymn
Under the breath.
The tray rotates in a perfect cycle,
As the radiating glow of candles illuminates
Each part of my face.
Starting at my temple,
Trailing down to my right cheekbone,
Then my lips,
Then my left ear and then
My forehead,
My presence is acknowledged by the gods.
The same sacred motion
Received by my mother,
Her grandmother,
And her mother before.
My mother and grandmother
Push me forward,
Gesturing that I should offer myself
As the representative for my family.
“What is your name?”
The priest asks me as he juggles
A tray filled with the same
Species of marigold that have been growing
Outside the temple for years.
I clear my throat and respond.
He nods his head and mumbles in silence
As he sprinkles drops of sacred water
Over my head.
The cold water startles me
As he rushes to the next question.
“What is your caste, young girl?”
The same two questions
Before each blessing,
to my mother,
grandmother,
And her mother before,
But different responses in each.
The bond to God is created anew
In each girl’s youth,
And is reborn when the next
Goes to mark her acceptance.
The predictability of our faith
Is what allows us to grow.
The scripture doesn't change,
Allowing our fates to be variable.
The rituals don’t alter,
Making the connection to our ancestors enviable.
The rhythm of our belief doesn’t falter,
So we can expand our knowledge and be indispensable.
We sit in patience in front of the altar
To be spiritually defensible.
About the Writer...
Sriya (she/her) is a high school senior living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and she attends The American School of Dubai. Her poems have been published with The Weight Journal, Teen Ink, KidSpirit, The Rolling Stone, Blue Marble Review, and Footprints on Jupiter. She has published her own book, Being The One, describing her journey as a teenager in diverse environments. Her poetry is inspired by the small details in her daily life, but speaks to larger ideas of personal growth. As an author, she has progressed from writing solely about external events, to internal revelations.
About the Artist...
Emilia Hickman is a junior in high school and at the moment she has an interest in drawing people in her life. This is a picture of her and her mom.