Dear Friends Namaste!
My name is Dhruv, and I am 14 years old. I live in a slum just outside the city, where life can be tough for many of us. Despite the difficulties, I find happiness in the little things around me—my friends, family, and the rare moments of joy that come our way. One of those special moments happened during the Dussehra festival this year, thanks to an organization called Rajasthan Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan (RSKS).
Most children in my slum, including myself, don’t go to school regularly. As a result, we miss out on learning about a lot of things, including the significance of different festivals and traditions. Until recently, many of us didn’t know much about Dussehra or why it was celebrated. When RSKS decided to come to our slum and celebrate the festival with us, it was a new and exciting experience.
RSKS organized a Dussehra celebration that we had never seen before. They taught us the story behind the festival—how it symbolizes the victory of good over evil, as represented by Lord Rama’s triumph over the demon king Ravana. It was fascinating to hear about the story and understand why the festival is important to so many people.
The best part of the celebration was when we got to dress up as characters from the Ramayana! Some of my friends transformed into Lord Rama, Hanuman, and Sita, while others played Ravana and his demons. I was dressed as Lakshmana, Lord Rama’s loyal brother. It was so much fun to put on the costumes and act out scenes from the epic. After the performance, there was a grand feast with a variety of delicious foods. We were treated to traditional dishes that we don’t usually get to eat every day. The taste was amazing, and it felt like a real celebration. Everyone was so happy and full of smiles.
The day was a memorable one for all of us. We learned so much about our culture and traditions, and it brought us closer as a community. The efforts of RSKS in making this celebration possible were greatly appreciated. They didn’t just provide us with a fun day; they also shared knowledge and happiness that will stay with us for a long time. I want to thank RSKS for coming to our slum and making Dussehra special for us.