Deepa's Navratri Dress

Navratri is a nine-night Indian holiday that celebrates the Hindu deity Durga. During the festival, people like to dance and wear colorful clothing.

- Anita Nahta Amin

Navratri was almost here! Deepa couldn’t wait for the party in the dance hall. She’d wear her special two-piece dress with tiny bells on the hem. She’d jump and skip and twirl just to hear those bells jingle.

“I think you should try it on,” Mom said, handing Deepa the skirt. “You’ve grown a lot this year. It may not fit.”

Deepa stepped into her skirt and tried pulling it up. She yanked, wiggled, and twisted. She even tried pulling the skirt down over her head.

Mom frowned. “It’s too small. Try the blouse.” But that was small, too.

Deepa’s throat tightened.

Last year, Deepa and Mom had f lown to India to visit Deepa’s Masi for Navratri. Masi had taken Deepa shopping for a holiday dress. Deepa had loved the way the bells on Masi’s anklets jingled as they walked through the bazaar. When Deepa found a dress that jingled, too, she cried, “That one!”