Rani hugged her knees. The thick smoke made her cough but tall buildings around her twinkled with garlands of lights. Whoosh! A rocket! A shower of stars filled the sky and Rani looked up in wonder.
Her parents slept under the table on the pavement of a flyover. During the day, the table was their shop. They sold flowers. Rani, their little daughter, would sell bouquets to cars stopping at the traffic light.
Tonight, Rani was lost in the sparkling cracker shows. Suddenly something white landed near Rani. ‘Enjoying Diwali night?’
Rani looked down, A white bird with large black eyes stared back at her. ‘Did you just speak to me?’ she asked.
‘Yes, dear. I am the White Owl. I can speak to people.’
Rani smiled at him. ‘I love Diwali nights. I enjoy looking at the fireworks in the sky. You see, we don’t have the money to buy crackers.’
‘Did you know that Diwali is actually a festival of several days everywhere? Here,in North India, Diwali is celebrated with lights and fireworks to thank Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth for good crops.’
‘I didn’t know that,’ said Rani
‘Yes and this festival is celebrated in different ways all over India.’ White Owl said.
‘Really! How interesting!.’
‘Why don’t you sit on my back and I will show you.’ White Owl said, pointing to the feathers on its back.
Rani sat on White Owl’s back and held his soft neck tightly. White Owl rose high into the air. He flew above the smoke on the ground. After a while, he landed.
‘Look! There is another goddess being thanked here. She is the Goddess Kali. We are in Bengal. Here people celebrate this day because Goddess Kali defeated the evil demon, Beejasura, on this day.’
‘ Oh no! Kali has a long red tongue!’ Rani said.
‘And she is dark too. Let’s go somewhere else, now,’ said White Owl.
Now, they flew really fast. Rani loved the wind in her hair.
White Owl flew down after some time. He said, ‘We are in Tamil Nadu, in South India. Do you see people smashing a fruit? It is kaarita and people believe they are crushing Narkasura, another demon who was killed, on this day, by Lord Krishna. After smashing the demon, people light lamps in their homes and pray.’
‘What a way to remember Lord Krishna’s good deed!’ said little Rani.
‘Come on. Let's see another celebration,’ said White Owl.
They flew long and far this time. They reached a street where people were smiling and giving gifts to each other. White Owl said, ‘We are in Maharashtra. People give gifts to celebrate King Bali’s rule over the whole world for this one day In Karnataka, people make kolam patterns on this day too.’
‘How wonderful that everyone celebrates the days of Diwali in so many different ways!’ Rani’s eyes were shining.
‘Yes, Rani. Different people live in India but we celebrate our festivals as one country. Through festivals we thank God for a good life. All Indians enjoy all the festivals of India.’
‘White Owl, shouldn’t we go home now?’ Rani said.
‘Yes, of course,’ agreed White Owl. Once more they rose up and began flying across the dark skies.
‘Wake up, Rani. Wake up.’ Rani’s mother shook her.
Rani opened her eyes.
She was curled up on the pavement and the sun was shining brightly.
Was it only a dream? Rani thought sitting up
Something fluttered into her lap. Rani looked down and rubbed her eyes It was a soft white feather.
All rights reserved @Sutapa Basu 2014
