The Mothers Go Forth with Golden Plates
Bala Kanda, Doha 346
Doha 346 · Movement 2 of 2
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The preparations are complete. Golden plates filled with auspicious offerings rest in the lotus soft hands of the mothers as they leave the inner palace to perform the welcoming parichhani.
Their bodies blossom with sacred delight. The feet that moments before could scarcely move now carry them toward the sons and daughters approaching Ayodhya's gates.
This brief procession within the larger procession gathers maternal longing into movement. Gold shines, offerings give fragrance, songs rise, and every step closes the remaining distance. The mothers do not wait behind palace walls for joy to arrive. Love goes forth to meet it, bearing blessing in both hands.
With golden plates before them, the mothers carry Ayodhya's blessing out to meet the returning family.
Read the passage from the Manas
कनक थार भरि मंगलन्हि कमल करन्हि लिएँ मात। चलीं मुदित परिछनि करन पुलक पल्लवित गात।।346।।
Carrying golden plates filled with auspicious offerings in their lotus-soft hands, the mothers set forth joyfully to perform the parichhani welcome, their bodies blossoming with sacred delight.