You must Sign In to post a response.
  • Category: Reward Programs

    Celebrating Holi and Easter - Precis Writing Contest

    The festival of Holi ushers in the spring season and celebrates the victory of good over evil. Easter celebrates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. A fun fact - while we know that colours and water are thrown on others during Holi, did you know that in a few places in Eastern Europe, one of the Easter traditions is throwing water at each other? (I got this interesting info. from the Learn English portal of the British Council).

    Come! Let's celebrate these two happy festivals that are coming up within one week with a precis writing contest, based on this idea which Umesh came up with.

    What you have to do: You have to submit a precis on either Holi or Easter. Now, keep in mind that we do not merely want you to write generally about the festival and its traditions and rituals. What we would like to read is something unique. Example- lessons learned from celebrating the festival, a personal experience such as a fun trip during the festival, a culinary aspect, etc.

    Rules-
    1. Submit a short precis of one or two paragraphs only, with a minimum of 150 words and not exceeding 300 words about either Holi or Easter. It should not be a creative piece, such as a story or a poem, but can include something like a conversation if required when narrating an experience. Do not include references to weapons, medications, etc.
    2. Adhere to our general guidelines, without any inflammatory text and respect the communities that celebrate the festivals.
    3. A member can submit only one entry.
    4. The entry should be submitted in a response to this thread. No title is required.

    The Rewards-
    The jury panel will select up to three best entries, with each of the winners getting a cash prize of Rs. 50/-. Other entries may get enhanced points and cash credits based on the quality. Like always, editors who participate will not be evaluating the entries.

    Closing date: 31st March 2024.

    Remember- you have 10 full days to come up with something exceptional! So don't make haste and apply your mind to writing a good precis.

    [Once again, Umesh, thank you for the concept]
  • #777658
    My humble submission. Topic: Celebrating Easter in Delhi

    -------------------------------------------------------------

    David: Hi, Anne! Are you excited about Easter this year?

    Anne: Absolutely! Easter always holds such deep significance for us. How are you planning to celebrate it?

    David: I thought of attending the sunrise service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral at Gol Market. There is something incredibly moving about witnessing the dawn break on Easter morning, symbolizing the hope and new life Christ brings. Moreover, the weather is excellent in Delhi during Easter.

    Anne: I am thinking of going to the Easter vigil at St. Thomas Church at RK Puram the night before. It's a powerful experience, reflecting on the journey from darkness to light, from death to resurrection.

    David: That's true. The Easter vigil is such a solemn yet joyous occasion. Further, the liturgy and music leave me feeling uplifted and I renew my faith.

    Anne: Afterward I am planning to gather with family and friends for a festive Easter brunch. It's a wonderful opportunity to share in fellowship and gratitude for the gift of salvation.

    David: I'll also do the same. There's nothing quite like breaking bread together.

    Anne: And let's not forget the importance of reflecting on the deeper spiritual significance of Easter amidst all the festivities. It's a time to re-commit ourselves to living out the values of love, forgiveness, and compassion which Christ has taught us.

    David: Absolutely, Anne. Easter is not just a day of celebration but also a profound reminder of God's unconditional love and the promise of redemption. Let's make the most of this special day to deepen our faith.

    Anne: Amen to that! Happy Easter, David. May this day fill your heart with joy and peace.

    David: Happy Easter to you too, Anne. May God bless you abundantly!

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    (287 words)

    (a) Those who have forgotten Noakhali, how can they protest Sandeshkhali?
    (b) Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. ---------- Salvador Dali

  • #777671
    My entry is
    Hidden advice in the Holi festival to all humans

  • #777672
    Ramachandran, you are supposed to post the entry as a response to this thread and not as a separate thread. Please read the guidelines properly before participating in any contest.
    'Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all'.
    -Aristotle

  • #777677
    Should an examiner help an examinee in the examination hall?
    (a) Those who have forgotten Noakhali, how can they protest Sandeshkhali?
    (b) Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. ---------- Salvador Dali

  • #777678
    Partha,
    It's OK. No help has been given for the entry per se; it's just pointing out a requirement. I would have done the same but the guidance was already given by the time I came online. If I am not mistaken, we have on a few occasions explained the vice-versa requirement, too, namely, that the entry should be submitted in a separate thread.

    When you make a commitment, you create hope. When you keep a commitment you create trust! ~ John C. Maxwell

  • #777679
    If I did the same thing (and pointed out the mistake), would I get the same 'OK' treatment?
    (a) Those who have forgotten Noakhali, how can they protest Sandeshkhali?
    (b) Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it. ---------- Salvador Dali

  • #777680
    Yes, Partha, you would. You read the thread. If you had posted a response there and informed Ramachandran that he should post it here, then also we would not have objected. We are not that rigid about valid guidance being given (I reiterate - nothing improper was conveyed with reference to the entry). Now kindly don't put Q&A sessions here!
    When you make a commitment, you create hope. When you keep a commitment you create trust! ~ John C. Maxwell

  • #777686
    My grandmother lived alone in the village in the ancestral house and we lived in the town nearby. My father used to visit her on foot once every 15-20 days to deliver some basic household items. That time I was in my class IX. It was Holi festival time and my father was busy with some urgent work and asked me to go to the village and fetch the needed items for my grandmother. I was told to stay there for 2-3 days during Holi holidays.
    I had visited the village a few times but never during the Holi time. Anyway, I went to stay with my grandmother for 2-3 days and the next day I found the whole village in a Holi mood and a group of people singing and visiting each house playing colors and giving blessings to the family. They were being offered jaggery and other sweets and water. It was a unique experience for me and I was amazed with the great tradition. Some elders asked me to join them and visit a few houses with them. I asked my grandmother and she happily allowed me to join them. For those 2-3 days I enjoyed the Holi festival much and when I returned to town I excitedly narrated my Holi experience to my parents who were happy to know about it. The memory of that first village Holi experience still lingers in my mind.

    Knowledge is power.

  • #777690
    My entry

    Holi, the vibrant festival of colors, holds a special place in my heart. During a recent trip to experience Holi firsthand, I was swept away by the contagious energy of the celebrations. Amidst the chaos of swirling colors and joyful shouts, I found myself fully immersed in the moment, letting go of worries and inhibitions. The playful exchanges of colors and sweets brought people together in a way that transcended language and cultural barriers. It was a powerful reminder of the universal language of joy and unity. What struck me most was the eco-friendly aspect of the celebrations. The use of natural colors not only preserved the beauty of nature but also highlighted the importance of environmental responsibility. In essence, Holi became more than just a festival—it became a transformative experience, teaching me valuable lessons in mindfulness, unity, and environmental consciousness. As the colors faded and the festivities came to an end, I carried with me not only memories of laughter and friendship but also a newfound appreciation for the beauty of life's vibrant tapestry.

    Explore, create, inspire

  • #777734
    That is a residential colony of officers of an organisation. Around 50 quarters are there. There is an officer's club. All of them will be having a get-together at least once a month. People from the North and South are also staying in that colony and almost all festivals are celebrated grandly there. Holi is one such festival they grandly celebrate in that colony. This year also .celebrated the same.

    As per Hindu Mythology, a female demon called Holika tried to kill Prahalad an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu by burning him in fire. Prahalad escaped without any injuries miraculously but Holika died in those flames. As part of the festivities, bonfires are lit the evening before Holi. This is to show the success of good on evil.

    So, on the previous night of Holi, a bonfire will be lit in this colony by the residents near the club. The next day morning that was on the Holi, all of them were gathered outside the club and started spraying colour on each other. They were separated into three groups. Gents, ladies and children. All were very enthusiastic and had fun by spraying colours on each other. They sat around the bonfire arranged in the previous night and started singing and playing.

    Even though they are all working for the same organisation, they all forget their ranks in the work and mix well with each other and memorably celebrate the same. In the evening, they will have a feast in the club and all the members attend without fail.

    I feel such celebrations will make people understand the importance of togetherness.

    drrao
    always confident

  • #777759
    At that time I was doing my UG in a college in a hilly town in Uttarakhand. Holi festival was nearing and there were two holidays continuously followed by Sunday. Some of the families planned a picnic at the banks of a river located about 18 km.
    Parents and children assembled in the morning with bags full of some basic utensils, eatables, and water and took the bus and reached the place after about 2 hours.
    We found a clear place and our parents collected wood sticks and started the fire for making tea on a stone stove assembled and left by people having a picnic there.
    We were 16 people including 2 little girls and 1 little boy.
    We prepared tea, heated the food items, had lunch, and played games. We had planned to catch the 4:30 PM bus to return.
    About 3 PM when we were having some singing activities, we heard the crying of children and one boy ran towards us telling us that one little girl had slipped down at the bank of the river. We all were frightened and rushed to the spot but by that time the high current of the hilly river had swept away the girl. The parents of the girl were in a big shock and we immediately rushed to the bus stop and there was a small police post where we lodged a report about the fatal incident and soon a police search party was asked to leave the town to track the little girl in the downstream.
    We were asked to go back and only after 3 days the dead body of the girl was found in a small irrigation dam.
    For us, the Holi festival turned into a sad episode and that year we all refrained from celebrating it.

    [This entry wins a prize for the precis writing contest.]

    Thoughts exchanged is knowledge gained.

  • #777766
    When I was a student in class ten, I noticed that the Holi Festival was advancing gradually and all my colleagues including myself were trying our best to heighten our bond of relationship during this festival. Devesh was very close to me and we all colleagues regarded him as an experienced boy in terms of thinking and making shrewd planning. Even the teachers of our school known as D.V.C. Bokaro Thermal had a similar opinion of his novel qualities.
    Devesh opined that this festival was the occasion of forgetting all our evils including the caste barrier and hence he did not foresee the problem of inclusion of Md. Amanullah, Javed and Aftab to this elegant festival.
    Our group consisted of 12 boys including four non-Hindus. All of us planned to have a picnic party a day before the festival with the inclusion of tangy dishes including varieties of foods to make the festival memorable. Really, the chicken cooked by Javed was yummy and so Dahi Vada made by Kamal Kishore was equally mouth - watering. It was really a grand occasion for all of us providing a message to the society of our holy alliance of maintenance of cohesion within the society.
    Our parents and teachers appreciated our sentiments of restoration of unity. Finally, it was a momentous occasion of Holika Dahan when we all folks assembled to perform this ritual of burning Holika. Unfortunately, fire engulfed dangerously burning the body of Aftab. This was an unexpected development and this helpless boy remained in the casualty for a month.
    However, Aftab's parents showed their gentleness without utterance of irresponsible comments.
    Whenever this grand festival approaches, it creates a feeling of sadness within my mindset but again there is a sigh of relief that our task of reuniting the society remained intact.

  • #777866
    Easter is more than just a holiday. It's like a fresh start, full of different experiences and lessons.

    One Easter, I didn't just think about the usual stuff like going to church or having a big meal. Instead, I thought about how Easter could help me change and grow.

    I decided to try something different and learn about Easter foods. I made colourful eggs and baked special buns called hot cross buns. Cooking these dishes taught me about the fun side of Easter and how food brings people together.

    Then, I joined an Easter egg hunt. It was exciting to search for hidden eggs with friends and family. It showed me that Easter is about joy and sharing happy moments with others.

    But the best part of Easter for me was learning about hope. Easter shows us that even when things seem tough, good things can still happen. It is like how flowers bloom after a long winter – it gives us hope that better days are ahead.

    Easter is a time to discover new things, share happiness, and believe in brighter tomorrows.

    Honesty is the best policy.

  • #777901
    I once asked a Christian colleague of mine, "Easter being a day of happiness, of Christ's resurrection, why is it not as popular as Good Friday, which unlike the former is a solemn day". With a wry smile, he replied, "It's because Good Friday is observed as a holiday". "Why do they not declare Easter as a holiday, instead", was my stupid query in response, not realising Easter anyway, always falls on a Sunday. My foolish query apart, I once got the opportunity to attend an event marking Easter. It all happened inadvertently when on a Sunday a few years back, we went to visit a shopping mall. Luckily, it was an Easter Sunday. The mall's lobby was beautifully decorated. It was on seeing the various exhibits that we realised the decorations were meant for Easter. It was our first experience attending an Easter event. What excited me the most were the Easter Eggs. There were numerous of them. Some were in baskets, others hanging from branches, a few in trays and all of them uniquely painted or decorated. Adding to the beauty, were the Easter Bunnies, Rabbits and Hares of all shapes and sizes adorning the place. No wonder, it was a colourful evening for us and we thanked our stars for being able to experience it.

    Speaking of Easter Eggs, I do have some vague memories of painting empty eggshells during my childhood and hanging them on thorny branches along with coloured thermocol balls and beads. Not sure, whether I was aware of Easter Eggs at that time, but such crafts were quite popular then. All the more interesting, I get to reminisce about my brief but colourful experience of the festival on Easter Sunday itself,

    [This entry wins a prize for the precis writing contest.]

    Patience and perseverance pays


  • This thread is locked for new responses. Please post your comments and questions as a separate thread.
    If required, refer to the URL of this page in your new post.