With the holiday season round the corner, everyone has started shopping for new dresses, fire crackers, decorative items, etc. Our teacher asked us about our preparations and we had a long discussion. I told my teacher and my friends about our dance program, mumma making homemade sweets, etc. I also told them dadda would be buying me many crackers that we will burst during Diwali.

We had a lot of fun discussing about the holidays. Our teacher said we must all have as much fun as we can during the holidays but we should not forget about safety. We should act responsibly and make sure we do not harm ourselves or the others around us. She said, we all love bursting crackers but we should follow some safety measures to ensure no one gets harmed. Since the crackers need to be burned with fire, any mistake can lead to severe injuries.

So she shared some safety tips and asked us to share them with as many people as we can. So I thought apart from my friends, I should let you all know about the safety tips that our teacher shared with us. So here are the tips:

1. Burst crackers in an open space and make sure there are no combustible and inflammatory objects around.
2. Burst crackers only when your parents are around.
3. Never play with crackers or throw them towards anyone.
4. When putting fire on the crackers, keep your face away.
5. Wear tight and comfortable footwear, so you can quickly move out the place where the crackers are burning.
6. Always wear cotton clothes that are well fitting. Synthetic clothes are a no-no.
7. Keep a bucket of water handy, just in case you need it.
8. In case anyone gets injured get immediate medical help.
9. Store the extra crackers away from any source of fire.
10. When bursting hand help crackers , keep the hands as far as possible from your body

There are the do’s; now I will tell you about the dont’s:

1. Do not burst crackers in crowded or congested areas
2. Do not bend over the crackers when putting fire
3. Do not keep crackers in your pocket
4. Do not burn crackers inside your house
5. Do not burn crackers when elders are not around
6. Do not burst crackers on roads where vehicles pass by frequently
7. Do not burn aerial crackers if there are overhead obstacles
8. Do not go near crackers that do not burst.
9. Avoid bursting crackers close to hospitals and nursing homes
10. Do not experiment or tamper the fire crackers

Holidays are meant for enjoying but that does not you should go overboard. I told about the safety tips to my mumma and dadda and they were very happy to know that I know about what safety measures to take even before they told me. So have fun with your friends and family and make the best memories. I am sure going to do that.

Just as you know Dussehra is only a few days away, everyone has started preparing for the holidays. We host a cultural program in our community every year during Dussehra and this year I will be performing a traditional dance. Last year I recited a rhyme, but since I was very afraid I could not finish the rhyme. I was surprised since mumma and dadda didn’t get angry; they said it happens. When you get on the stage and see so many people, you feel nervous – that is perfectly natural, so we will try and do better next time.

This year I will be dancing on a traditional song wearing a ghagra and choli. It is a traditional Indian dress and is kind of a skirt and blouse but it is very colourful with lots of designs and decorations on it. A veil matching with the skirt has to be put on and it makes you look even more beautiful. I have seen mumma’s photograph when she was small; she was wearing a red and green ghagra choli and she was looking so sweet. Mumma got a Rajasthani song and she is teaching me the steps. This is the first time I am hearing a Rajasthani song, but I like it very much. Mumma said Rajasthani dance involves a lot of turning, but she will teach me easier steps so that I can perform well. I have seen them in movies and I liked the dance very much. I have two more friends performing with me, so they come down to my place every evening and we practice together.

We have performed on stage before, in school but this is different. We have to perform in front of many unknown people. People from all the neighbourhoods would come down to see the program, so there would be many people gathered together. Last I was alone, so I got afraid; this time I am performing with my friends, so I hope I will feel confident.

One of my friend’s mother stitches very well and she will be making the dresses for us. She has already taken the measurements and got the materials as well. Mumma said once the dresses are ready we will wear them once and rehearse on stage so that we will feel comfortable performing on the final day. We will also wear many ornaments like Rajasthani girls do and dance like them.

For the time being we need to practice very well; mumma said co-ordination is very important to make the performance look good. So we need to make sure, we make the moves together. It’s only the second day that we have started practising; as we practice more we can do it perfectly. I hope grandpa, grandma and nanu would be here; they would have felt proud about me. I will tell dadda to record the dance and send it to them so they can see me dance. I am sure they will like it.