kaise divali manae ham lala
apna to barah mahine diwala
ham to hue dekho than than gopala
apna to barah mahine diwala
apna to barah mahine diwala

mar-mar ke ham roz mehnat kare
aur yaro ko dekho tijori bhare
din-rat ham to gulami kare
phokat me ye sand kheti chare
dhan pe hamare hai saitho ka taala
apna to barah mahine diwala
apna to barah mahine diwala
kaise divali manae ham lala
apna to barah mahine diwala
apna to barah mahine diwala

ham to khichadi hi khate rahe
are halava lafage udate rahe
ham muft me jhadu lagate rahe
ganga me ganga me gadhe nahate rahe
data teri akl ko
data teri akl ko hai kay jhala
apna to barah mahine diwala
apna to barah mahine diwala
kaise divali manae ham lala
apna to barah mahine diwala
apna to barah mahine diwala

How shall we greet Diwali, friend?
For us, a year-long darkness descends.
We, the empty-pocketed, lost and bare,
A twelve-month season of despair.

This world, a shameless, brazen thing,
Snatches wealth, on borrowed wings.
The cunning ones, their coffers swell,
While we, like owls, in slumber dwell.
Better to be a merchant's son, perhaps,
For us, a twelve-month lapse.

We toil and sweat, our spirits strained,
While others' treasuries are gained.
We slave by day, we serve the night,
As idle bulls graze in the light.
Our lips are sealed, a silent vow,
For us, a twelve-month now.

We eat the gruel, thin and weak,
While rogues consume the sweets they seek.
We sweep the dust, without reward,
While asses bathe in the sacred ford.
Your wisdom, Lord, is veiled in haze,
For us, a twelve-month daze.