It's Festival Time!

By Swapna Dutta

"The book introduces the reader to the major festivals celebrated around the world, especially in India. It also gives a brief write-up on how winter festivals were celebrated before and after the advent of Christianity. It mentions well known legends related to festivals and concludes with a few contemporary stories, each with a festival as its

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
• Release date: Apr 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9789360498382

Book preview

It's Festival Time!

Features, Legends and stories related to important festivals

Swapna Dutta

Ukiyoto Publishing

All global publishing rights are held by

Ukiyoto Publishing

Published in 2023

Content Copyright © Swapna Dutta

ISBN

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated, without the publisher’s prior consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.

To the little ones in my family – Paramarth, Alisha and Sara - with Love.

Acknowledgements

When It’s Festival Time first appeared in the Children’s Page in The Pioneer. Brother-Sister Festivals first appeared in the Target magazine, brought out by The Living Media. Winter Celebrations Around The World first appeared in Scottish Home and Country (UK). Legend of The Christmas Tree first appeared in Sunday Herald. The Home Coming first appeared in the anthology Celebrate! Your Festival Handbook Diwali (2013) published by Hachette India. Sudeep’s Holi first appeared in the anthology Celebrate! Your Festival Handbook Holi (2013) published by Hachette India. The Night of the Eighth Day first appeared in the anthology Celebrate! Your festival Handbook Dussera& Durga Puja (2011) published by Hachette India. ZubieKhala’s Dupatta first appeared in the anthology Celebrate! Your Festival Handbook Eid (2012) published by Hachette India. A Song that Lives On first appeared in the anthology Celebrate! Your Festival Handbook Christmas (2011) published by Hachette India.

Contents

When It’s Festival Time

Brother-Sister Festivals

Winter Celebrations Around The World

Legends Of The Christmas Tree

The Home Coming

Sudeep’s Holi

The Night Of The Eighth Day

Zubie Khala’s Dupatta

A Song That Lives On

About the Author

When It’s Festival Time

F

estival time means the time for celebrations, rejoicing, sweets, new clothes, fireworks and lights. It includes everything that gives joy and happiness.

All of them symbolize something.

Briefly speaking, all these festivals celebrate victory.

Navaratri, Durga Puja and Dussera celebrate goddess Durga’s victory over Mahisasura, the buffalo-headed demon. Both these symbolize the same thing – the victory of goodness over evil.

Dussera especially celebrates Rama’s victory over Ravana. Rama was the prince of Ayodhya who was sent on a 14-year long exile by King Dasrath, his father. Dasrath had three queens and had once promised the second queen that he would grant her any two things she asked for. That was a long time ago. Just when Rama was about to be crowned as prince-regent, the second queen asked the king to keep his promise and grant her the two wishes. The first thing she asked for was that her own son Bharata should be made the prince-regent instead of Rama. Her second demand was that Rama should be sent away on a 14-year long exile. King Dasrath was astonished and heartbroken and begged her to ask for something else. But the queen was firm. Rama willingly went on exile so that his father’s promise might be honored. His brother Lakshmana and wife Sita also accompanied him. During his exile Ravanna, the demon king abducted Sita. A fierce battle followed in which Rama defeated Ravana.

However many versions there might be about the story of Rama and Ravana of the original epic, there is no doubt that this is what the festival celebrates. What’s more, we are also expected to remember that it is possible for a human being to achieve this victory, for wasn’t Rama born as a human when he did it?

Diwali , celebrated as the festival of lights all over India, symbolizes much the same thing – the victory of light over darkness. It is the time to bring out all our good feelings and light the