A UNIQUE DUSSHERA

Mysore’s Vaibhav Society celebrated Dusshera with grandeur every year.

- Alka Jain

The society park usually echoed with the cheers of children. However, this year, just before Dusshera, there was an unusual silence. The reason for the silence was a quarrel between Garvit and Rohan. They were the best of friends and made Ravan’s effigy together every year, but this time they were not even on speaking terms with each other.

Garvit was quiet and hardworking. He took pride in his work. Every year, he prepared the effigy and included the other children. Rohan was just the opposite. He always looked for shortcuts and said, “Do smart work, not hardwork.”

This year, as usual, Garvit had started making the effigy in the park. He sat with chart papers, bamboo and glue, with the younger children forming a circle around him.

“Garvit bhaiya, will Ravan’s clothes be red this time or blue?” one asked.

“Let me make his moustache this time!” another said.

Garvit laughed and divided the work among them. Just then, Rohan arrived and sighed.

“Garvit, why are you doing all this? Just get a ready-made effigy from the market and you'll be all done,” Rohan said.

“The real joy of celebrating a festival is when we put in the effort ourselves,” Garvit replied calmly. The next day, Rohan brought a large, ready-made effigy from the market and showed it to everyone.

“Look! The work is done in an hour. Use your brains. What’s the point of all that effort?” he said.