Monday, June 7, 2010

Childhood rhymes

This post was like time-travel, inspired by the Tullika blogathon, where I've entered Nino's favourite bath-time rhyme.

My favourite one is this: A rhyme that I'm sure is as old as Yashoda and Krishna, one that my mum sang to me, and one that she sings to Nino, still. A popular lullaby too, it is both proud and poignant about all that a child means to a mother.

Tame maara dev na didhel cho,
Tame maara maangi ne lidhel cho,
Aavya tyare, ammar thai ne raho...

You are the gift of the gods to me,
it is you that I've always seeked/wanted/asked for,
and Now that you've come to me, be here forever.


--

Edited to add, the lullaby that Papa preferred :)

Raate vehela je suve,
Vehela uthe veer,
Bal, buddhi ne dhan vadhe,
Sukh ma rahe shareer!

Roughly translated, it's the Gujju version of Early to Bed, Early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.