मुझे रंग मत लगाओ

In this chapter, students of Hindi will acquire the vocabulary, cultural knowledge, and reading skills necessary to understand and discuss the festival of Holi and a character’s experience of assault during this festival’s celebrations. Holi is a major festival marking the start of spring. People “play” Holi by throwing dyed powder and water at one another, leaving everyone covered from head to toe in a kaleidoscope of colors. During the festivities, those reluctant to play Holi often find themselves ambushed by friends and family and doused in colors. While Holi is generally a season of merriment, some take advantage of the revelry by throwing colors at strangers or touching others inappropriately. The chapter includes pre-reading questions about the reader’s favorite festival, a glossary of relevant vocabulary, and a story in which a narrator describes the experience of her friend during a past Holi celebration. She invites her to celebrate their year’s festival and encourages her to get over her memories of the past. The notes on culture elucidate issues related to Holi, and the activities guide students in their comprehension of the story and in applying this knowledge to an identification activity in which several festivals s are described and a writing activity about the reader’s favorite festival.