CELESTIAL WEDDING

Note: In Hindi "Kamal" is the name of the lotus flower. Kamal can be used as a name for a male or female. The event of the Dedication of the Mother Temple of the Indian sub-continent created little interest in the world generally; but, for the Baha'is around the world it was a time of great joy and excitement. Around 8,000 attended the event and it is regarded as a day of Destiny in the spiritual development of mankind. These verses express the feelings of one Baha'i as he witnessed the event.

No drums did beat
Or trumpets sound
As Destiny kissed History's cheek,
And marked its page
With a golden edge
On Kamal's Wedding Day,

An unheeding world passed silently by,
Numb to the ecstasy of a happy Bride,
Nor cared to know
Why so much Joy
In the shimmering light of an early morn
On Kamal's Wedding Day.

Serene She stood in the early dawn,
All beautified and white-gowned,
Her face awash with pearly dew-drops,
Sunlight playing in her locks,
Her noble mien alight with joy
On Her celestial Wedding Day.

With breathless sighs Her suitors came
To pledge their love,
And vows to make
To lay their hearts upon Her Threshold,
To seal their sacred bond forever more
On Heaven's appointed Day.

Kamal! Kamal! Oh beautiful Kamal!
We love Thee
And we cherish Thee,
We will never ever forsake Thee.
Guide us and keep us,
To eternity preserve us.

Mother, Sister, Bride and Friend,
We are lost without Your hand,
Ever keep us in Your embrace,
And never let us fall from grace.
Wherever we go, wherever we toil
Remembrance of Thee will ever abide.

Written by Darshan Manocha