Jumpy's First Holi

In Champakvan, Blacky bear made clay utensils on the wheel and then baked them on the stove. He sold the firebaked utensils in the market. 

- Kumud Kumar

Once Blacky made a big pot, which was very thick and heavy. He placed it in a room with other earthen utensils.

The other utensils kept in the room looked at the thick pot with great surprise. Because of his big size, everyone was scared of him at first and then gradually became his friends. One day all the utensils came together and named him Poppy. Poppy was very happy after getting his new name.

That night everyone organised a party. As soon as Blacky locked the room, all the pots started celebrating. The tiny earthen cup started dancing. The slender-necked pot sang a melodious song.

The wide pot danced cham-cham by tying anklets. The pitcher did a vigorous disco dance. And Poppy danced like a clown wearing bell bottoms, looking a little like Charlie Chaplin.

The next day, Blacky took almost all the utensils except Poppy to the market so he could sell them. Poppy was very sad to be left alone. He wanted to go to the market with other utensils to be sold. But perhaps Blacky had created Poppy for some other purpose.

After a few days, more new utensils came to the room where Poppy had been placed, but they were eventually taken to the market to be sold, too. New utensils kept coming and kept being taken to be sold, but Poppy still lay there.

Slowly, dust started settling on the pot. New utensils came and made fun of Poppy.

They would say, "Hey, Poppy, one day, we will go to the market to be sold, and another layer of dust will settle over you."

Poppy didn't mind anyone's words.

He laughed, "Ho, ho!" with his big belly puffed up and said, "Someday I will get out of here and have a lot of fun. Holi is about to arrive, and many pots are sold then. A lot of colour is mixed in them."

Hearing this, the other earthen utensils mocked him and laughed.