Grace in our Home when we were Growing Up

Hootoksi Tyabji

Ever since I can remember, we held hands around our dining table and recited this Grace everyday before we ate our meal. It was composed in Gujarati by Neville’s grandfather Dinshawji Vakil and went like this:

O Khavind

O Khavind, o dadgar, o parvedegar

Rahem ane bakshesh taree no nahi paar.

Behu din ne raat hamaro paas baan

Khubi no chae bhandar tu yazad meherban.

Rahemo je bakshesh aaj roj hamo par

Shukar tena karyech o kerda naam var

Magyech etlu hame tu sahib ni paas

Ke rahim kar bhar lao tu hamari aash

Ke neki ne sachhai na raha pur rahiye

Ne har dum taru nam jaban pur laeyee.

"O God by all the names you are called, grant me blessings as per your will; Both in the day and at night stay with me because that is nature’s way. We thank you for all the blessings that you shower upon us today. We only ask this of you Great Lord, that you stay beside us every moment of each day so that we remain on the path of Truth and Righteousness and always have your name on our lips."