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English Short Stories

Festive

The mood of diyas being lit, of marigold strings and sweet-smelling kitchens, of streets that look entirely different after dark during a celebration. These stories belong to specific seasons and carry the full atmosphere of the occasion inside them. Best read in the days leading up to a festival.

Bhoomi floats a paper boat in the rain during Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra procession
Bhoomi and Diya Stories
ESS Editorial

The Legend of the Magic Rain

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe sun was hot. The road was hot. Even Bhoomi’s chappals felt hot. But the street was full of colour. Big wooden chariots stood waiting. Marigolds hung in long orange strings. Drums went dhum-dhum-dhum somewhere close by. Bhoomi had a secret in her pocket — a small paper boat, folded

Family gathered around an old clay lamp in a spiritual Diwali family story
Indian Life Stories
ESS Editorial

The Last Diwali Lamp

Reading Time: 3 minutesBy late afternoon, the old Kashyap house had stopped feeling old. Its courtyard had chappals scattered everywhere. Somebody had left half-cut marigold strings near the gate. Pressure cooker whistles came from the kitchen every few minutes, followed by Dadi shouting, “Meera, watch the kheer!” For the first time in years,

Spiritual Stories
ESS Editorial

The Importance of Dusshera: A Festival of Courage and Goodness

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Importance of Dusshera 🌟 Every year, when the skies turn golden with autumn sunsets, the air fills with excitement. Streets are decorated, fairs come alive, and in the night sky, fireworks sparkle. This is the time of Dusshera, also called Vijayadashami — a festival celebrated all over India with