On a train's journey,
two days we did ride,
Filled with laughter
and fun by our side.
Through fields and towns,
the landscape passed by,
Excitement building
as Orissa drew nigh.

In Puri, Jagannath
Temple stood tall,
Where blessings
upon us did fall.
Chants and rituals
filled the air,
Spiritual moments
we all could share.

Konark's Sun Temple,
a marvel so grand,
Carved in stone,
a masterpiece planned.
Stories of old in each
carving told,
History and beauty,
legends unfold.

Bhubaneswar's Lingaraj,
ancient and wise,
Where Shiva's grace
meets seeking eyes.
Towering spires
in devotion's embrace,
A sacred journey,
time and space.

Beside Odisha's seas,
joyous laughter rang,
Waves dancing
and the sunlight sang.
Family bonds,
moments so sweet,
In memories woven,
hearts complete.

Grandpa told the history
of Orissa, rich and grand,
Of ganga dynasty's king,
and this sacred land.
Of King Narasimhadeva,
who built the
Sun Temple so high,
A marvel of architecture
that reaches the sky.

Granny taught us the story of
Lord Jagannath divine,
How he came to Puri,
and blessings so fine.
From Vishnu’s wooden form,
his journey so grand,
Brought by King Indradyumna
to this sacred land.

Dad, an army man, taught
Odisha's strategic place,
Its coastal location
and maritime grace.
A gateway to the east,
where rivers meet the sea,
Geography shaping its destiny.

Mom shared Odisha’s culture,
so rich and bright,
Its paintings and architecture,
a visual delight.
Pattachitra art with
colors so fine,
Intricate designs,
storytelling in line.

grandpa then spoke of temples,
their architecture grand,
Kalinga style marvels,
all over the land.
Shikharas rising high,
and mandapas wide,
Elegance and devotion,
standing side by side.

My two brothers,
focused on science and the skies,
Taught me about
the stars and where they rise.
The physics of structures,
how temples stand tall,
Engineering marvels
that will never fall.

They explained the cosmos,
the sun and the moon,
Tides of the ocean and
monsoons in June.
The science behind
the wonders we see,
Nature and knowledge,
all shared with me.

As a poet, I note it all down,
Every story, lesson, and sound.
To remember forever this
journey we had,
With my family,
feeling blessed and glad.
Through my verses,
these moments will stay,
In the heart of Odisha,
never to fade away.


Then, a moment of luck,
unexpected delight,
I won a watch from a
chips packet, shining bright.
Accepting it as prasad,
divine and true,
From Jagannath's grace,
a blessing anew.

Me, my two brothers,
dada, dadi, mom, and dad,
We feel very blessed
for all the darshan we had.
Generations together,
in pilgrimage we found,
In temples and seas,
our spirits unbound.

Through train journeys,
joy and cheer,
To Odisha's heart,
memories dear.
In Odisha's heart,
our journey did unfurl,
Through the Golden Triangle,
a cherished pearl.

got to learn
many things there
the motive of my journey
became truly fair
History, spirituality,
family's delight,
In the land of temples,
our souls blessed bright.

✨jay jagannath✨
© soumya.tiwari