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Festival Stories: Through the Year
India is a country of myriad festivals! Not a month goes by in which we don't have something to celebrate. This book invites you to rejoice in India's rich culture through the simple stories of two young twins, Natasha and Nikhil, as they experience an entire year of festivals and celebrations - starting with Lohri in January and ending with Christmas in December!The detailed descriptions and wealth of detail about each festival that Natasha and Nikhil record in their blog and journal will make this a book to treasure and return to every time a festival comes by.So come celebrate with us!
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 23, 2023
#bookhoarderreviews
Natasha and Nikhil have always stayed in the US until one year when their parents decide to bring them to India for a year to stay with their grandparents. While they live in India, they get to celebrate a myriad of festivals and learn everything about them. Not only do they celebrate all the festivals, they also blog and journal them throughout the year. While doing so they also learn some very important values like community living, kindness, empathy, friendship and cooking to name a few.
Their learning and celebration of festivals starts right from Lohri, Pongal and Makar Sankranti in January and ends with Christmas in December. While they celebrate each festival along with their grandparents, neighbours, friends and family, they also learn about the importance of the festivals. Though the book is essentially about festivals, the author has also incorporated themes like sharing, bullying, traditional practices followed during festivities and the logic behind them.
It is a great book to introduce festivals to the kids through the experiences of Natasha and Nikhil. The book is written in a way that children can easily relate to it in the current scenario. The language is simple and very captivating. There are in all thirty-two festivals enumerated in the book through fun stories about how they are celebrated, the food that is cooked and the rituals followed. After every celebration, Natasha and Nikhil would pen down their experience and learning in a blog\journal. The idea of children maintaining a written account of important days is a very intelligent idea that the author has incorporated. The children can definitely take inspiration from this and start their own journals\blogs.
The book opens many topics for conversation, related to festivals and otherwise as well. It will not just help children understand and appreciate the contrast between different religious and cultural aspects but also learn the joy of living together as a community and being there for each other in times of need.
Though the book is suitable for middle-graders to read on their own, the lucidity of the language renders it suitable for 7-year-olds to be read aloud. The book is one-stop fun guide to all the festivals celebrated in India and I highly recommend introducing the children to this insightful book.
Natasha and Nikhil have always stayed in the US until one year when their parents decide to bring them to India for a year to stay with their grandparents. While they live in India, they get to celebrate a myriad of festivals and learn everything about them. Not only do they celebrate all the festivals, they also blog and journal them throughout the year. While doing so they also learn some very important values like community living, kindness, empathy, friendship and cooking to name a few.
Their learning and celebration of festivals starts right from Lohri, Pongal and Makar Sankranti in January and ends with Christmas in December. While they celebrate each festival along with their grandparents, neighbours, friends and family, they also learn about the importance of the festivals. Though the book is essentially about festivals, the author has also incorporated themes like sharing, bullying, traditional practices followed during festivities and the logic behind them.
It is a great book to introduce festivals to the kids through the experiences of Natasha and Nikhil. The book is written in a way that children can easily relate to it in the current scenario. The language is simple and very captivating. There are in all thirty-two festivals enumerated in the book through fun stories about how they are celebrated, the food that is cooked and the rituals followed. After every celebration, Natasha and Nikhil would pen down their experience and learning in a blog\journal. The idea of children maintaining a written account of important days is a very intelligent idea that the author has incorporated. The children can definitely take inspiration from this and start their own journals\blogs.
The book opens many topics for conversation, related to festivals and otherwise as well. It will not just help children understand and appreciate the contrast between different religious and cultural aspects but also learn the joy of living together as a community and being there for each other in times of need.
Though the book is suitable for middle-graders to read on their own, the lucidity of the language renders it suitable for 7-year-olds to be read aloud. The book is one-stop fun guide to all the festivals celebrated in India and I highly recommend introducing the children to this insightful book.
January 12, 2019
This is a wonderful introduction to religious festivals of India for children of all ages – including adults. My husband is from India, and while I know of some of the festivals, (Pongol and Divali – sometimes spelled Diwali), I learned so much more in this book. I’m a retired teacher, and I wish I had had this book in my 6th grade classroom as supplemental reading when we studied India.
The writing is never pedantic, because the author has used an engaging story frame: Eleven-year-old twins, Natasha and her brother Nikhil, are staying with their paternal grandparents, Dadu and Dadi, in Bangaluru (the local name for Bangalore). Their parents are still in the U. S., winding down jobs and arranging for transfers in a year, while sending the twins ahead, feeling it’s time for them to learn more about their culture first hand. Homesick but intrigued, Natasha begins a journal and Nikhil starts a blog.
The book covers 32 festivals from Lohri, a Punjabi folk festival falling on January 13th to Christmas on December 25th. The author has lovingly researched and described the festivals through the eyes of Natasha and Nikhil. They learn about the customs, clothing, and food associated with each festival as they participate. (The sweets and snacks served had my mouth watering each time.)
Each chapter begins with a little anecdote, often humorous, followed by one of Natasha’s journal entries or Nikhil blog’s posts. Their new world unfolds for the reader as they make friends with other kids, study for exams, play Indian games, go shopping, or stuff themselves with delicious snacks at each festival. The majority of the population practices Hinduism, but Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism also have their devotees, and the twins get invited to their festivals and learn the traditional stories associated with each.
Chhabria has researched her subject well. She includes the many names for some of the festivals and the gods and goddesses who figure in them. She makes references to the Gregorian calendar months to keep a reader from the west grounded in the time frame when these festivals occur. Many holidays are shared alike (with different names) by Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus. Some are regional, and the twins attend them because they or their grandparents have made friends with characters who practice these faiths.
The author paints unforgettable characters with deft brushstrokes that don’t belabor descriptions but capture personality. Natasha and Nikhil are endearing eleven-year-olds, and Dadu and Dadi are the grandfather and grandmother everyone would want. The scenes are set so vividly, a reader is plunged into the colors and tastes and excitement of India. This was a lovely book, and I was really sorry to reach the end.
The writing is never pedantic, because the author has used an engaging story frame: Eleven-year-old twins, Natasha and her brother Nikhil, are staying with their paternal grandparents, Dadu and Dadi, in Bangaluru (the local name for Bangalore). Their parents are still in the U. S., winding down jobs and arranging for transfers in a year, while sending the twins ahead, feeling it’s time for them to learn more about their culture first hand. Homesick but intrigued, Natasha begins a journal and Nikhil starts a blog.
The book covers 32 festivals from Lohri, a Punjabi folk festival falling on January 13th to Christmas on December 25th. The author has lovingly researched and described the festivals through the eyes of Natasha and Nikhil. They learn about the customs, clothing, and food associated with each festival as they participate. (The sweets and snacks served had my mouth watering each time.)
Each chapter begins with a little anecdote, often humorous, followed by one of Natasha’s journal entries or Nikhil blog’s posts. Their new world unfolds for the reader as they make friends with other kids, study for exams, play Indian games, go shopping, or stuff themselves with delicious snacks at each festival. The majority of the population practices Hinduism, but Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism also have their devotees, and the twins get invited to their festivals and learn the traditional stories associated with each.
Chhabria has researched her subject well. She includes the many names for some of the festivals and the gods and goddesses who figure in them. She makes references to the Gregorian calendar months to keep a reader from the west grounded in the time frame when these festivals occur. Many holidays are shared alike (with different names) by Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus. Some are regional, and the twins attend them because they or their grandparents have made friends with characters who practice these faiths.
The author paints unforgettable characters with deft brushstrokes that don’t belabor descriptions but capture personality. Natasha and Nikhil are endearing eleven-year-olds, and Dadu and Dadi are the grandfather and grandmother everyone would want. The scenes are set so vividly, a reader is plunged into the colors and tastes and excitement of India. This was a lovely book, and I was really sorry to reach the end.
September 26, 2019
This was a wonderfully straightforward and engaging way of introducing the myriad festivals of India to young readers.
Ten-year old twins, Natasha and Nikhil have just moved from Manhattan to Bengaluru to live with their grandparents. A bit lost at the beginning, bolstered by their loving and social grandparents, they are soon making lots of friends and are happily engaged in the Indian festivals that take place throughout the year. Little notes on the customs, traditions and legends behind the festivities makes this an informative read and the wee ones will find themselves dipping into the book again and again as each celebration rolls by.
Ten-year old twins, Natasha and Nikhil have just moved from Manhattan to Bengaluru to live with their grandparents. A bit lost at the beginning, bolstered by their loving and social grandparents, they are soon making lots of friends and are happily engaged in the Indian festivals that take place throughout the year. Little notes on the customs, traditions and legends behind the festivities makes this an informative read and the wee ones will find themselves dipping into the book again and again as each celebration rolls by.
July 25, 2022
The very warmly greetings from my heart to the great efforts of the author - @rachna.chhabria mam. Not only does the cover-page of the book is eye-catching, but also it manifests us the unity of our diverse culture through customs and festivals of India. After conceiving about various festivals of India my level of proudness to be an Indian jumps to the transcendental mark. Also I like the illustration designed by @rayeeeka mam. Especially, raksha bandhan's ghungroo and durga maa are quite adored to me. We are so fortunate that we enjoy from makar sankranti of gujarati, ugadi of marathi, cheti chand of sindhis, vishukani and onam of keralas, pongal of tamilians, durga puja of bengolis, bihu of assamese, vijaydashmi-deepawali-chhath of UPs, gurupurab of punjabis, buddh and guru purnima to christmas of christians. Nevertheless, we celebrate each festivals as a citizen of INDIA. It is our beloved Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat.
p.s. - The described food items are very mouth-watery. Natasha is my favourite because of hers a good intellectual understanding.
p.s. - The described food items are very mouth-watery. Natasha is my favourite because of hers a good intellectual understanding.
August 25, 2021
About the book 📖: ♥️This book is definitely a must read for both children and adults. ♥️It has an amazing stuffs about the festivals through the year in India. ♥️The author has described each festival and its custom and rituals, culture, food and tradition beautifully. ♥️The book starts with ten-year-old twins Nikhil and Natasha, both lives along with their parents in Manhattan, America. ♥️Twin's parents planned to relocate the kids to India along with their paternal grandparents in Bangalore, India to get connect to their roots. ♥️Nikhil's Nook and Natasha's Journal are just amazing at the end of the each chapter which will keep the readers so engaged to read more. ♥️ Illustrations are just wonderful and the sketches are matched beautifully with the festivals. ♥️All the characters are fabulous and well portrayed along the storyline. ♥️ Overall, it is an engaging and fantastic book to have and to read.
December 7, 2024
Beyond festivals, the book opens up meaningful conversations about cultural diversity, community bonding, and mutual support. It not only fosters an appreciation for the richness of various religious and cultural practices but also emphasizes the joy of living harmoniously as a community.
While middle-grade readers can comfortably read the book on their own, its accessible language also makes it suitable for younger children, as young as seven, to enjoy as a read-aloud. This delightful book serves as a comprehensive and entertaining guide to Indian festivals, and I wholeheartedly recommend it for introducing children to the beauty of India's cultural heritage.
While middle-grade readers can comfortably read the book on their own, its accessible language also makes it suitable for younger children, as young as seven, to enjoy as a read-aloud. This delightful book serves as a comprehensive and entertaining guide to Indian festivals, and I wholeheartedly recommend it for introducing children to the beauty of India's cultural heritage.
April 5, 2023
Such a beautiful read!
India is often called a land of festivals because of the numerous colourful and joyous festivals celebrated here.
This book invites you to rejoice in India's rich culture through the simple stories of two young twins, Natasha and Nikhil. From Lohri in January to Christmas in December all the stories are beautifully knitted around each festival!
My 6 year old and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading these beautiful stories about each festival and look forward to returning to it each time a festival comes by.
India is often called a land of festivals because of the numerous colourful and joyous festivals celebrated here.
This book invites you to rejoice in India's rich culture through the simple stories of two young twins, Natasha and Nikhil. From Lohri in January to Christmas in December all the stories are beautifully knitted around each festival!
My 6 year old and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading these beautiful stories about each festival and look forward to returning to it each time a festival comes by.
April 24, 2023
This book is so heart-warming, no wonder both young and old are loving it. The characters are absolutely adorable and feel so real. The characters of the twins: Nikhil and Natasha just wriggle their way into the readers' hearts. The festivals are described so beautifully, with the story flowing so seamlessly. I loved the concept of Nikhil noting down the festival details in his blog 'Nikhil's Nook' and Natasha writing the festival details in her journal. The characters of Dadi and Sarla Aunty are my favourite.
The book chronicles 34 festivals of India. Its a must, must read for children.
The book chronicles 34 festivals of India. Its a must, must read for children.
October 5, 2022
I didn't know it was children's book before picking it up. But it felt to good to read it. It's slightly funny at places and informational too. Good for kids.
June 26, 2024
In Festival Stories through the year, Natasha and Nikhil ditch Manhattan for a year and they get to learn the importance of Indian festivities with their grandparents! From Pongal to Christmas, they blog, journal, and feast their way through each celebration, uncovering quirky customs and yummy treats. This fun guide is a treasure trove of empathy, community, kindness and perfect for curious kids.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews