Page 20 - Balvihar january 2024

Same Festival,

Different Flavours!

13 year old Arjun slouched in the corner, wearing a look of utter defeat.
"What is going on, Arjun?" asked his mom. "I have been handed this
impossible assignment," Arjun sighed.
“I must write an essay on an Assamese festival that is celebrated mid-
January.”
“Aren’t you just one Google search away?” Mom asked in a surprised
tone.

"Our teacher insisted that we stay away from Google,” shared Arjun. “It is all
about old-school methods – library books and real conversations."

"What festival did you say, dear?" Mom asked.
"I must unravel the mysteries of the Assamese festival, Magh Bihu,” replied Arjun.
"I can share a few facts to kickstart your journey," Mom replied with a grin. "Magh Bihu is a feast
for the senses. It's like the grand finale of the harvest
season. Families and friends gather under the starry
skies, lighting bonfires and feasting on delectable
delights."
"Hmm... harvest festival, bonfire, is this anything like
our Pongal?" Arjun questioned. "You make delicious
salt and sweet rice Pongal dishes dedicated to
the Sun God in appreciation of the bounties of
agricultural harvest?”
"Spot on, Arjun, and did you know that in Punjab,
they have Lohri – a winter crop celebration?”
shared mom. “Bonfires blaze to the beat of folk
songs and dance. Prayers are whispered into the night, and festive feasts are shared."
Arjun pondered aloud, "Why do we have three unique celebrations when they all revolve
around harvest? Shouldn't there be one way to revel in the abundance, uniting us all in a single
joyous occasion?"

Mom leaned in, her eyes sparkling with light. “While the essence is the same — gratitude for
harvest, feasts with seasonal produce, and togetherness – the flavours differ.

"Just like each corner of India has its own dance, music, and spice, our festivals reflect the
diverse colours of our land. Variety, my dear, is the spice of life."

Arjun scratched his head, "It's a bit mind-boggling, isn't it? The diversity from north to south
and east to west almost feels like a grand illusion. I mean, is all of this real, or have we
concocted a bunch of elaborate stories?"

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Balvihar - January 2024