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Premlata is dismayed to discover that her mother had sold their family's deepas, the little clay lamps used to mark the festival of Divali in her Bengali village, in this slim chapter-book from British author Rumer Godden. Things had been difficult in her family since the death of her father, some years before, and everything from her mother's bangles to her older brother Ravi's books had had to be sold. When she inadvertently communicates this state of affairs to Bijoy Rai, the local landlord and her father's former employer, his gift of a little money to buy some more deepas sets in motion a chain of events that changes everything for Premlata and her family. An exciting visit to the mela (fair) in the nearby town, a frightening night-time journey home, and a surprise discovery, all lead to better things...

I discovered Premlata and the Festival of Lights while searching for children's stories about Divali, which begins tomorrow, and seeing that it was by Rumer Godden, who has written many stories I have greatly enjoyed, I immediately decided to read it. Although Godden is considered a British author, she spent a great deal of her childhood in India, in a region now part of Bangladesh, and lived in Calcutta (now Kolkata) for twenty years, while running a dance school. She also apparently lived in Kashmir for a number of years, where she ran a farm. I would imagine that this background influenced her decisions, in telling this story. For my part, I found the narrative here engaging, and if the conclusion felt a little too convenient , I nevertheless enjoyed the happy ending. I also appreciated the glimpse offered of Divali traditions somewhat different to those I had already read about. I had always thought that the story of Rama and Sita was central to this holiday, and that the goddess Lakshmi (of whom Princess Sita is an avatar) was honored by it, but it would appear that this is only the case in some parts of India. In Bengal, where this story is set, the holiday is considered to honor the warrior goddess Kali, who fights the forces of darkness. I enjoyed this story, in its own right, but am also glad to have had my limited understanding of Divali/Deepavali expanded. Recommended to chapter-book readers looking for engaging stories about Divali and/or set in India. ( )

This charming little illustrated volume will provide some useful context to readers who want to know a bit more about a celebration of Diwali and its significance in honoring & assisting the goddess Kali in her bloody battle against evil demons and darkness. Impoverished since the death of her father, Premlata longs to light the deepa (traditional oil lamps) to celebrate the Festival of Lights, but the oil lanterns have been sold along with mother's jewels and brother's books, to buy food while all continue to grow thin in their diminished circumstances. Not surprisingly, plucky Premlata uses wit an grit to solve the family's problems.

While the going is a bit slow at first, the plot picks up and the story as it unfolds is engaging, albeit not without a healthy dose of noblesse oblige. Nonetheless, a good read for Seniors (& youngers--the protagonist is only 11 or so) to help elucidate the significance of Diwali and to inform readers with rich details about life in Bengal, east India (now Bangladesh). The author usefully employs lots of Bengali (?) language, rich settings, and economy of style. Definitely a good companion to Senior South Asia study, as well as a read aloud to youngers, if only as a Divali story. ( )

This charming little illustrated volume will provide some useful context to readers who want to know a bit more about a celebration of Diwali and its significance in honoring & assisting the goddess Kali in her bloody battle against evil demons and darkness. Impoverished since the death of her father, Premlata longs to light the deepa (traditional oil lamps) to celebrate the Festival of Lights, but the oil lanterns have been sold along with mother's jewels and brother's books, to buy food while all continue to grow thin in their diminished circumstances. Not surprisingly, plucky Premlata uses wit an grit to solve the family's problems.

While the going is a bit slow at first, the plot picks up and the story as it unfolds is engaging, albeit not without a healthy dose of noblesse oblige. Nonetheless, a good read for Seniors (& youngers--the protagonist is only 11 or so) to help elucidate the significance of Diwali and to inform readers with rich details about life in Bengal, east India (now Bangladesh). The author usefully employs lots of Bengali (?) language, rich settings, and economy of style. Definitely a good companion to Senior South Asia study, as well as a read aloud to youngers, if only as a Divali story. ( )