It’s been a little while since my last post — life has kept me on my toes with a teaching job I started this school year, along with ongoing classes. I’ve missed sharing poems with you all, and I’m so happy to be back just in time for the season of lights, laughter, and gratitude. Today, I’m thrilled to share a hello and a Poetic Sunday post filled with mini poems celebrating this bright and joyful season.
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Poetic Sundays: Festive Poems of Light and Gratitude
As the season of lights and thankfulness wraps us in its glow, we find ourselves moving from one celebration to another — it seems that one festivity is barely waving goodbye before the next one arrives. For me, the joy begins with Navaratri and the beloved golu displays each year. Then comes Deepavali, bringing sparkle, laughter, and the warmth of friends. Soon after, Halloween tiptoes in with its witches, ghosts, and pumpkins galore, followed by the reflective remembrance of Día de los Muertos. Before we know it, we’re wrapped in the gratitude of Thanksgiving, and I’m already looking forward to the gentle glow of Karthikai Deepam in early December. And of course, you all know what follows soon after!
Each festival carries its own rhythm, color, and light — together they create a melody of hope, love, and renewal. Here’s a small collection — a festive garland of verses I’ve written over the years — celebrating life’s little moments that give both memory and meaning their shine.
🌸 Navaratri: The Joy of Golu
My Navratri Golu
All the things we’ve to do, everything can wait a while, just hit pause and take a moment to enjoy.
Since you’re relaxed dear friend, look at this golu display, with clay dolls old and new, some favorite toys.
Up there is the popular Dasha Avatar set, down here the Aesop’s tale set hand-made by me.
From my mom per tradition came the Marapachi, while dear mom-in-law gave me her Meenakshi.
~ Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites
✨ A celebration of stories, generations, and devotion — where every doll tells a tale – written using the Doha poetic form
Below is an image of this year’s golu at my place.
A Melodic Farewell to My Golu
I gently store the dolls as daylight fades to gray,
knowing they will now rest until another day,
and while the joy they brought lingers, they cannot stay,
but soon enough, they’ll rise again in full display.
~ Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites
🎶 A tender goodbye that holds the promise of next year’s joy – written using the Filipino form Awit.
🪔 Deepavali: Lamps and Laughter
I See a Smile Happen
By the glow of the lamp,
Your face lights up with glee;
A smile waits to be free…
…..and, there it is!
~ Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites
🌟 Sometimes, all it takes is one diya to light up a heart. Written using the melodic Marathi Abhang
🎃 Halloween Hues
Whispers and Wonders
Lanterns flicker, masks take flight,
Pumpkins grin through candlelight.
Footsteps echo, laughter spins,
October hums where magic begins.
~ Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites
🕸️ A night where play meets mystery, and every shadow hides a story. Written as a quatrain with AABB rhyming.
💀 Día de los Muertos: A Wink from the Beyond
Things That Go Kaput
My sink, it did shine so bright, –
gleaming, glistening, empty.
But my eyes shed tears despite (this)
For my dishwasher died on me!
~ Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites
💐 A playful ode in the calaverita tradition — where humor and remembrance dance hand in hand.
🦃 Thanksgiving: Gratitude Bonds!
Skybound Bonds!
Amidst waiting and delays, many stories were spun,
And new connections, warm friendships were begun!
In an airport lounge, a delay in the air,
Five women waited, a serendipitous affair.
Strangers at first, with time to kill,
But laughter and stories, the void did fill.
Seven hours turned into a bond so sweet,
In that lounge, where new friends did meet.
Thank you for the joy, the tales we spun,
In an airport lounge, where friendships are won.
~ Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites
🧡 Gratitude sometimes finds us where we least expect it — even in delayed departures. A Thank-you poem – find tips and inspiration here. More thank-you poems here.
🪔 Karthikai: Love and Light
The Lamps of Karthikai
Brightly lit clay lamps, glowing in the night’s embrace,
embrace shadows with grace, and they replace —
replace the darkness with loads of love and light,
light that makes every loved face delightfully bright!
~ Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites
💛 A festival that turns every doorway into a constellation of warmth. Wrote this poem using the very cool anthathi (a Tamil poetic form). See if you can find what is cool about it.
✨ Closing Thoughts
From clay dolls to glowing lamps, from laughter to lingering farewells — these celebrations remind us that joy lives in our connections, in memory, and in light. May we continue to find gratitude in every glow, every smile, every story shared this season. Wishing you all a warm and wonderful festive season, no matter what you celebrate. And in the spirit of cumulative songs (like On the first day of Christmas), I bring you this one (also written earlier, in the linked post):
My Cumulative Wish
This very moment, I wish you joy
Lots and lots of it, oh boy!
This very moment on this day,
I wish you joy, and happiness too
Lots of both for me and you!
This very moment on this day
of this festive holiday month (yay),
I wish you joy, happiness, and cheer
Lots of all to last through years!
~ Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites
Recently
On My Blog
it has been pretty quiet, and therefore, tbh, not-so-recently on my blog, I posted about A Wonderful Whiff of Fun: Books with Smelly Titles since my last Sunday Scribblings, which was Sunday Scribblings #235: 3 Os and 4, 5,6,7 More Too
On the Homefront
Between those last posts and today, we have celebrated Navratri (as those of you who have visited me know is my personal favorite Indian festival – the golu aspect of it) and Deepavali as well this past weekend.
Upcoming (Hopefully this Week is the One to Begin Again, Again!)
On My Blog and On the Homefront
At least one to two random posts each week, short and sweet, to highlight a few products I have discovered, and books as well!
Celebrations
Literary Celebrations (close-to-it also!)
- Literary birthdays this week include: Jonathan Stroud, Sylvia Plath, and Zadie Smith on the 27th;
; Anne Perry, Ayad Akhtar on Oct 28th; Lee Child on the 29th of Oct; Ezra Pound on Oct 30th; John Keats on Oct 31; Stephen Crane on the 1st of Nov - The 27th is World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
- October 31st is Books For Treats Day and National Knock Knock Joke Day
- November is a month for lots of literary celebrations!! It is Family Stories Month, National Life Writing Month, National Family Literacy Month, and of course NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month!
- Nov 1st observes National Authors Day, National Family Literacy Day, and Fountain Pen Day
Foodie Celebrations
- The week begins with National American Beer Day on the 27th of October
- And is followed by National Chocolate Day on the 28th of October.
- Then comes National Oatmeal Day on the 29th
- Next up – it is National Candy Corn Day on October 30th – do you like candy corn? As for myself, I like to see it but is too sweet for me!
- Then, October 31st is National Caramel Apple Day
- and November 1st is National Calzone Day, National Cinnamon Day, as well as World Vegan Day
- Then the 2nd of Nov observes National Deviled Egg Day
Note: for any excess Halloween candy that you have no idea what to do with, check out Operation Gratitude or Treats for Troops (this is for the US but I am sure there are similar efforts in other countries too)
Other Celebrations and Observations
- We have National Mentoring Day on Oct 27th
- followed by Plush Animal Lover’s Day and International Animation Day on the 28th
- Then it is International Internet Day on the 29th of October.
- Next up is National Checklist Day on the 30th
- October 31st is of course celebrated across various nations as Halloween, Samhain. It is also Girl Scout Founder’s Day, World Cities Day, World Savings Day
- November 1 through the 2nd is set aside in Mexico and some other regions for the Day of the Dead celebrations.
- The 1st is also Extra Mile Day and Prime Meridian Day. In addition, it also celebrates the state day for the state I grew up in back in India – Karnataka – called Kanna Rajyotsava.
- And National Bison Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in November (The American Bison is the National Animal of the US of A)
- November 2nd is Be the Impact Day, Look for Circles Day, and World Ballet Day
Wrapped Up: My Sunday Scribblings
So dear reader, you have reached the end of this Sunday Scribblings! As always, I welcome your thoughts, comments, and suggestions about this post. Which festival lights or moments are shining brightest in your home or heart this week? Which of these poems appealed to you the most, and do you have a favorite holiday poem – any holiday? And, of course, do let me know if you plan to celebrate any of these mentioned celebrations this coming week/month?
Linking this to the Sunday Post over at the Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday Salon.
