होळी आली होळी Holi Ali Holi (Holi Has Come, Holi)

होळी आली की पुरणाची पोळी खावी, पण झाडे-फांद्या तोडू नयेत. केरकचरा खड्ड्यात टाकावा.

In the opening stanza the poet joyfully announces Holi's arrival and mentions the custom of preparing the sweet puran poli for the occasion. He then quickly raises an awareness point - no tree or branch should be cut for this festival. He also advises that household waste be dumped tidily into a pit rather than thrown around carelessly.

होळीसाठी लाकडाऐवजी वाईट रूढी-प्रथांची मोळी बांधावी आणि चांगल्या गुणांची झोळी भरावी.

In this stanza the poet uses a clever metaphor - on Holi, everyone should gather goodness within themselves, as though filling a pouch with fine qualities. At the same time, instead of tying the usual bundle of firewood, he proposes tying up a bundle of society's harmful customs and outdated beliefs, and offering that bundle to the fire instead.

होळीच्या दिवशी झाडे न तोडण्याची शपथ घ्यावी आणि पर्यावरणाची काळजी घ्यावी.

In the third stanza the poet's tone grows firmer - he states directly that while celebrating the festival, one must not lose sight of nature, and nobody should cut down even a single tree of their own will. He goes further still, urging that everyone make a personal pledge on this day to refrain from doing so.

होळीबरोबर थंडी दूर पळून जाते आणि ऊन वाढू लागते, म्हणून कपाटातून बंडी (उबदार कपडा) काढायची वेळ येते.

The mood of the poem shifts here as it captures the changing weather. The arrival of Holi itself signals that winter's grip is loosening and the sun's warmth is increasing day by day. The poet subtly suggests that it is time to pack away thick, warm garments and pull out lighter clothing suited to the approaching summer.

जो कोणी होळीचा सण असा (पर्यावरणस्नेही पद्धतीने) साजरा करेल, त्याच्या घरी निसर्गराजा स्वतः येऊन मदत करेल.

In the closing lines, poet Dilip Patil unveils the heart of the poem. He paints the image that whoever celebrates Holi responsibly - avoiding tree-cutting and setting aside bad customs - finds nature itself pleased, coming forward on its own to lend a helping hand. In short, the lesson the poet leaves us with is that when we look after nature, nature looks after us in return.