Mira - V Kalima

KALIMA

A festival dedicated to the Goddess Kali is being prepared in the palace. We see different activities of puja, ritual, decoration and food preparation. Priests, cooks, servants and maids enter and exit in a flurry of activity. A group of ladies, all with big red bindus on their foreheads and carrying trays of gifts as offerings to the Goddess, enter excitedly. They dance to a rhythmic version of the song Kali Maheshwari, and some of them appear to get into a trance. It is a vibrant dance and has the power to mesmerize those who are watching. This sets the tone of how the festival is celebrated in the palace.

Ladies and others:
Kali Maheshwari Parvati Shankari
Sharanam Sharanam Sharanam Ma...

Halfway through the song, a flute soars above the rhythm of the drums, and Mira enters, singing. Hers is a song of personal sadness and yearning, totally in contrast to the song and dance she has unknowingly intruded upon. The others are discomfited..

Mira: Ah! Painfully mad with love am I
But who will hear my sighs
Only those lost in love
Will know what it is to love
In pain I go from door to door
In vain I search for the doctor
Says Mira: Listen, O master
Mira's pain will disappear
When her lover Shyam appears!

As Mira sings, oblivious to the fact that she has intruded, the ladies withdraw in confusion. Udabhai, the sister-in-law enters and is irritated with Mira's insensitivity; it is after all the festival of the Goddess, in honour of their family deity. She picks up a pot and hits it hard to regain the rhythm of the Kali song the ladies were singing. With this cue, the ladies resume their song, bringing out the ferocious aspect of the goddess and ending with them forming a circle around Udabhai who has taken a pose as the Goddess herself. Mira, on the other hand, not really aware that she has spoilt their song and dance somewhat watches all this with amusement and fascination. When Udabhai takes on the pose of the goddess at the end, Mira becomes slightly withdrawn.

Udabhai: Mira, did you not know that it is Devi Puja today? Mira is silent. Are you not helping us with the preparations? As a devoted wife, you should be busy making these preparations in honour of the goddess Chandi so that your husband, my brother, will gain victory in battle.

Mira: I am always saying prayers to my beloved lord.

Udabhai, missing Mira's meaning: Well, that's not really enough. The goddess must be appeased with sacrifice.

Mira: Don't ask me to slaughter any animals. I don't believe in shedding blood!

Udabhai, coldly: You don't have to do that. As the daughter-in-law, you just have to prepare the prasad.

Mira: I can't. I won't. I will not cook any meat as an offering.

Udabhai: Are you mad? Or are you stupid? For hundreds of years, we've been offering prasad this way to Kali Ma to gain her blessings and her protection, to ensure that our family honour and power will increase. Now you just come here with your silly romantic dreams about Krishna and give no thought to performing the duties expected of you. If you don't do as you are told you will stir the anger of Kali Ma. If ill fortune befalls any of us, it is your fault!

Bhojraj, entering with his uncle and seeing Mira in tears, goes to her: What's the matter, Udabhai? What's happened?

Udabhai: Ask her yourself.

Mira: I know that it is my duty to prepare the prasad for the puja but I will not cook any meat and make it an offering. [Bhojraj hesitates and Mira looks at him searchingly.] Please don't force me.

Bhojraj: Well then. Do whatever your heart desires. [There is a gasp from Udabhai.] I am sure whatever is performed with love will be accepted. If not, I will make a special sacrifice to Kali Ma myself. [Mira smiles at him but Udabhai, moving towards her uncle is definitely not happy.]