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About the Author
Eidgah is a Hindustani story written by the Indian author Munshi Premchand. Written under the pen name Nawab Rai, it is one of the most well-known stories of Premchand.
Different types of festivals
Diwali
Pongal
Ramzan
Dushera
Holi
Eid
Onam
Christmas
1. Which is your favourite festival?
Anything like Holi, Diwali, Eid, Christmas etc.
2. When do you celebrate it?
To thank nature and spend some time with friends and relative and show gratitude to them.
3. Do you celebrate with your family or friends?
Yes, without them, festivals can be dull.
4. Why do you celebrate it?
To eat large, healthy food and being thankful, readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Complete story:
Part - I
1. Eid is a festival celebrated by Muslims. On this day they all meet and greet each other. Since it was a festival day, children are more excited, and they look at everything with a happy angle. They felt that the tree looked greener, the sky was pink, and the field was swaying with joy. The sun was shining more as if he wants to wish the world, Happy Eid!
2. The whole village was filled with happiness. Everyone got up early to go to the Eidgah, which is a place where everyone will gather. And the boys were more eager to go as everyone was talking about it for a long time, so they were restless. They took their coins from their pockets, counting and counting again with numbers one, two, three, etc. There were twelve coins, Mohsin had fifteen coins. With this, they can buy many things like sweets, toys, balls etc.
3. Hamid was one of the boys who was very enthusiastic. He was just four years old, thin and not so well dressed because the previous year his father expired of cholera, and later his mother died. So, Hamid lived with his grandmother and was very active always. She told Hamid that his father has gone to obtain some money and his mother has gone to Allah to get some presents for him. So, Hamid was happy. Though Hamid didn't have shoes or cap, he was sure that his father would bring silver coins and mother lots of gifts for him. And he would have more than Mahmood, Mohsin, Noorey and Sammi.
4. His grandmother Ameena was sad as it was Eid festival and she didn't have anything to cook. She was missing her only son, who would have taken care of these. Hamid ran out and told his granny that he would be back soon, but Ameena was worried as other boys went with their fathers and Hamid was all alone to go to the exhibition.
5. Hamid, along with other boys, went to the fair. Hamid was soo happy to go as if he had wings in his feet, he ran fast and waited for others under a tree. They all reached the end of the city, which had lots of big houses. The gardens had mango and leechee trees, full of fruits. They come across a sweet shop, which was decorated nicely. The sweet shops had lots of sweets which was looking like a mountain of sweets.
PART - II
6. Now the roads get crowded, and there are many tongas, horse rides, some cars as well. People used perfumes and came out with enthusiasm. Children were also calm, as for the village children things in the town were amusing. They looked at each and everything with awe. Finally, they came to the Eidgah, and there were many worshipers as far as the eye could see, so a person who has recently arrived had to stand behind them.
7. After the prayer, men hugged each other and started for sweet and toy shops together like an army. There was this merry-go-round with wooden elephants, horses and camels wherein you have to pay one paisa for twenty-five rounds. So Mahmood, Mohsin, Noorey and other boys sat on the horses and camels.
11. He thought of his grandmother, she didn't have a pair of tongs, and whenever she cooked chappatis, her hands were burnt by the iron pan. He thought of buying those tongs for her as she would never burn her fingers while cooking, and it will be useful always. So, Hamid wanted to buy a pair of tongs, and he asked the shopkeeper how much it cost. The shopkeeper said it is not for a small child like Hamid.
8. Hamid did not sit on that, and he just saw them as he had only three paisas. He didn't want to waste money by going on a merry-go-round, and that too they just finished it soon. Now, they went near toy stalls, which were on either side of the road like a row. There were several toys like soldiers and milkmaids, kings and ministers, washerwomen and holy men etc.
9. Hamid friend Mahmood bought, a policeman in khaki with a red turban and a gun. Another Mohsin bought a water-carrier, and Noorey bought a lawyer. It cost two paisa each and Hamid had only three paisas, and he cannot afford to waste it. That too toys might break if dropped or lose colour if a drop of water fell on it, but he wanted to hold them for a few minutes. Now comes the sweet shop, some bought sesame seed candy, others gulab-jamuns or halva and enjoying it, Hamid did not.
PART - III
10. There were some hardware shops and jewellery shops next to the sweet shops, but the children were not interested in it, so they walked past, but Hamid stayed.
11. He thought of his grandmother, she didn't have a pair of tongs, and whenever she cooked chappatis, her hands were burnt by the iron pan. He thought of buying those tongs for her as she would never burn her fingers while cooking, and it will be useful always. So, Hamid wanted to buy a pair of tongs, and he asked the shopkeeper how much it cost. The shopkeeper said it is not for a small child like Hamid.
Hamid insisted, whether it was for sale or not?
Shopkeeper was rude and said it is, and it cost six paisa.
Hamid was disappointed and asked him to tell the correct price.
The shopkeeper agreed for five paisa and said Hamid to take it or leave.
12. Hamid asked for three paisa and kept walking, thinking that the shopkeeper might scold him. But on the other hand, the shopkeeper did not scream at him and gave him the tongs. Hamid was happy about his choice and wanted to show his friends. He put the pair of tongs on his shoulders like a gun for everyone to see. Mohsin laughed at him and asked him if he was mad and what will you do with those tongs. Hamid quickly threw the tongs on the ground and replied, asking him to throw his water carrier on the ground to see if it breaks.
13. Mahmood was bit surprised saying if tongs were also a type of a toy.
Hamid happily replied that if he keeps the tongs on shoulders it appears as a gun, or it can be used as a musical instrument used by singing monks. He compares his tongs with tiger. A tiger is superior among all animals, and his tongs are superior than those toys.
14. Sammi wanted to exchange tambourine with Hamid's tongs which was of eight paisas. Hamid was not interested in exchanging, as everyone wanted the pair of tongs. By eleven o'clock again the entire village was in eagerness as those who went to fair came back including Hamid. Grandmother Ameena was very happy to see Hamid. She hugged and kissed him.
15. She saw the tongs in Hamid's hands and asked about it, the cost of it. He told her that he bought them for three paisas.
16. Grandmother was worried that Hamid had left long back. He did not eat or drink from that time and asked why he didn't buy anything to eat instead of tongs. Hamid said that he bought the tongs for her so that she would not burn her hands anymore while cooking.
17. Grandmother was too touched by his concern for her than with his own. For her, it was the most precious thing than a bags of silver.
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