How A Teacher's Festive Surprise For Children Sparks Excitement, Creativity And Joy

Kathir was waiting impatiently for Amma to return from his school. The school was closed for the holidays but Mahima Aunty, his teacher had asked the parents to come and collect a package for the children. She had told the children that it was for the upcoming festival season and they were going to love it!

What is it going to be? Kathir thought hard, unable to contain his excitement. Mahima Aunty loves flowers! Was she sending them all flowers? But wouldn't they wilt before Amma gets back? Perhaps not.

Maybe she was sending them chakkarai pongal, the sweet rice dish with lots of ghee and cashews! Kathir's mouth started to water.

But Pongal wasn't anytime soon. So, what could it be? Ah, he knew it. She was sending them colored papers to make origami ships or flowers or, wait, diyas for Diwali! What else could it be?

Amma arrived with a big smile on her face. She took out a football-sized object from her bamboo basket. It was covered in newspaper and wrapped clumsily.

What could it be? Kathir's eyebrows narrowed. He could smell rain. But it was a hot day. He ran to Amma.

"What is it, Amma?" Kathir asked.

"Give me 10 minutes. We will see," Amma said.

Kathir and Amma drank a tall glass of buttermilk. Then Amma took Kathir to the balcony. She laid out large newspapers on the floor and taped them together. She tore a large plastic cover and taped it on top of the newspaper mat. They both sat on it. It was all so funny and playful for Kathir. He laughed. Amma had placed a small bucket of water, some sticks, a bowl, a small mug, and a cloth wipe next to their mat.

"Please, Amma. What is it?" Kathir was giggling.

Amma opened the package. There was a large ball of clay in it! Moist, soft, and it smelt like rain. She placed it on the plastic sheet.

"Whaaaaat!" exclaimed Kathir with a big grin. "What do we do with this, Amma?"

Kathir's mother washed her hands, wiped them, and took out her phone. She played a video clip. It was from Mahima Aunty. She was wearing a green kurti with an elephant print.

They heard Mahima Aunty say cheerily, "Hello, children! Navratri is around the corner. If you were in school, you'd all be making clay dolls for the school kolu. Since the school is closed, I'm sending you potter clay. Make a doll or anything you like, an animal, a flower or a table. Send them to the school. We, teachers, will arrange the objects on the kolu stand and hold a video call. You will see the display of all your artwork. We can sing songs and listen to stories on all nine days of Navratri. Do you like the idea? Look, I made two balls. I placed one ball on top of the other. I made two little ears and a tail. Here's my cat! What are you going to make?"

The video ended. Aunty had just shown what she had made. Kathir was all excited. He grinned at Amma.

Kathir and Amma spent the next two hours getting their hands dirty. They made not just one but several things:

A cat, a bat

A mouse, a house

A fan, a van

A tree, a bee

Then Kathir made something special for Mahima Aunty.

On the first day of Navratri, Kathir was looking eagerly at the laptop screen. He could see the thumbnail displays of all his friends on the video call. Everyone was happy and smiling. Amma pinned Mahima Aunty's screen. She and the other teachers were at school. Mahima Aunty adjusted the screen so that the children could see the kolu display. The children could see each piece of artwork.

Mahima Aunty read out who made what:

Priyanshi's Pillayar

Shyamala's saint

Kiara's kitchen set

Mohan's modak

Tiara's trampoline

Kathir's collection

A cat, a bat

A mouse, a house

A fan, a van

A tree and a bee!

The children clapped for each other.

Mahima Aunty and the other teachers had decorated the stepped display stand with flowers. They lit the lamp and the incense sticks.

Mahima Aunty sang, Bommai amma Bommai, mannil seiydha bommai (dolls mamma dolls, dolls made with clay).

The children sang along.

The festivities ended for the day.

Kathir logged off, feeling both happy and sad. How he wished he was at school. Also, why didn't Mahima Aunty show the special object he had made for her? He had told Amma to mention it to her.

Just then Amma brought her phone and opened a voice note:

"Hi, Kathir! I loved all your dolls and the special clay flower you made for me. It looked like a real one, and you know how much I love flowers, right? I'm taking it home for my kolu. I'll send you a picture. Okay? Bye!" It was Mahima Aunty!

Kathir had the biggest smile on his face that day.

*Kolu is the south-Indian tradition of a doll display neatly arranged on a stepped stand during the Navratri festival.