Children’s Day - Kashvi

Here’s your ribbon’’, my teacher said. I thought in my mind, ‘Well, my third ribbon!’ It was exciting! I had won 3 games on Children’s Day!  

Yes! I am talking about the day when teachers favour the children, make cards for us, have us play games, stack up the benches in such a way that we can sit and talk with our friends, sing and read out a big card of compliments from all our teachers. 

Children’s day is and has always been a special day for many,whether in our times or during my mum’s time in school.

My mum said,” In the era of punishments, who wouldn’t have liked a treat of no punishments on Children’s Day ! “ 

But there’s another treat that she recalls clearly...that of ice-cream!

Ice-cream used to be a luxury in those days. On Children’s Day, the school principal would call the ice-cream vendor inside the campus to deliver the treats. Most of the students, including my mum, would eagerly wait for their turn and hope to get a very yummy, strawberry flavoured 

ice-cream called ‘Cherry Berry’(sold only by the famous Golden Ice-cream of Patna in their days) from the cart! 

Interestingly, one of my mum’s friend’s birthday was on children’s day. Though she had a fantastic day, with half day school and sweets to stuff her mouth with, there was no special birthday cheer for her as everybody would be dressed in colourand nobody would notice aunty showing off her new frock! 

Different times, different people and different experiences, eh? Well, I am glad that Chacha Nehru got fond of children, just like you might be fond of chocolate or your favourite teddy bear and gave us a day to truly call our own!

Hip Hip, Hooray!