Bird Tower

Some villagers made this tower for birds to live in on the edge of a natural lake. There is a temple, a bael tree, many birds and humans seeking blessings from Lord Shiva.

The multi-coloured tower is five feet wide octagon thirty six feet high.

The lake houses egrets and turtles, not counting innumerable frogs, fishes and few tortoises. Herons and kingfishers hang out in the bushes and trees always on a look out for sweet water fish.

In summers the lake is dry, the green babul bushes also turn brown, and it is yet a haven for blue bulls to play around.

In the monsoon, the earth turns magically green, the lake gets over whelmed by baby frogs and buffaloes bathing.

Winter time is for the migratory birds to stay in the warmth away from frozen lands they come from.

All year round, villagers feed the birds with grain, the bael tree yields fruit for the monkeys, the bael¹ leaves are used for worship in the temple.

Heaven on Earth looks like this!

¹Bael- Stone apple.

Written by Poonam Jolly 21.10.23

Illustration. Poonam Jolly, Makhduma Merchant, Archi Rojivadia

Nr. Mahadev Temple, Shilaj