Bhai Phonta (Let Love Be Love, Sisterly Love) Poem by Bijay Kant Dubey

On the forehead of her brother
The sister will impress
A phonta, a drop
Of paste,
Sandalwood paste,
Apply a tikka,
A red sindoor tikka,
A vermillion spot,
Will bind a red yarn
Around the wrist
After praying to,
To the Lord,
Showing the arti
To God.

And taking the tikka,
The phonta,
How have I remembered her,
Forgotten her
Over the years,
Taking the paste
Think I, think I,
What have I to her,
Giver to her,
How, how have I helped her?