Deen Ki Pukaar: The Cry of the Suffering

The deen—the humble, the broken-hearted, those pushed to the margins—held a sacred place in Mirabai's devotion. She identified with them, sang for them, and insisted that the divine hears their cry (pukaar) more fully than any other prayer. In collective mourning, deen ki pukaar reminds us that grief often arises from communities already marginalized: those who lose more in tragedies, whose losses receive less media attention, whose grief is seen as less culturally significant. By centering deen ki pukaar, we ensure that collective mourning becomes a justice practice. We amplify the voices of those most affected. We recognize that the cry of the suffering—including collective grief over lost lives—is a legitimate spiritual utterance that deserves to be heard fully. Mirabai's devotional practice teaches that we do not need permission, eloquence, or social standing for our grief to matter. The humble cry of those who suffer carries sacred weight. In mourning public figures and tragedies, deen ki pukaar invites communities to mourn not only those celebrated but also those forgotten, ensuring that collective grief becomes inclusive and restorative.