Storytime with Tula Jane and her Mother in the Wild
The Light Within You
Tula Jane and her Mother in the Wild read "The Light Within You" by Namita Moolani Mehra.
You can support us and the author by purchasing your very own copy here: https://amzn.to/3XGz0IG
As Amazon Influencers we are eligible to earn on qualifying orders.
Become a Premium Monthly Subscriber to get a 20% discount on Requests and Dedications and have your child greeted in the other episodes we publish. Click on the link below being sure to "opt-in" for emails so we can contact you to learn their names.
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-in-the-wild/subscribe
We appreciate you so much!
- Broadcast on:
- 24 Sep 2024
- Audio Format:
- other
(upbeat music) - Hi, welcome back to Storytime with Tula Jane and Mother in the Wild. Today we will be reading The Light Within You by Namita Mulani Mira. - Thank you, Tula Jane. And this is a very special dedication for our new friend, Ollar. Her name means a blooming flower into meal. And this is a reading for her sixth birthday. Your family is so very grateful to have you bloom in their lives every day, bringing them so much happiness. So this is also a special dedication for your twin brothers, Akil and Mukil, from Amma and Nanu. Happy birthday, Ollar. - Happy birthday. - Are you ready? - Get cozy. - Dia was ready. She was going to visit her grandma in India for Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Dia hadn't seen Nanny in a long time, not since they moved from India. Now Dia's family had moved again to another new city, another new school. Her classmates didn't know much about Diwali and wondered why she was going away for three whole weeks. Dia missed India. She missed Nanny. Nanny was her best friend in the whole world. Why did she have to live so far away? Dia had done the math. It was 7,850 miles to get to India, a 24-hour journey, one whole day after two cars, two planes and a rickshaw ride. They were finally here at Nanny's. Dia saw a flash of gold and then ting, ting, ting. Nanny emerged, waving a prayer bell. Welcome home. Nanny's house was filled with old photos. Dia ran her hand over the frames. Time to make new memories. Nanny said, "Let's go shopping, cello." Here with Nanny, everything felt familiar, warm and comforting. Dia wished she could stay here forever. At the Bazaar, Dia marveled at the displays. Nanny beamed and bargained, "Your granddaughter is here!" Everyone said, "She looks just like you." In Dia's new town, no one looked like her. "Time to make Diwali sweets," Nanny said. In the kitchen, Dia's taste buds tingled at the smell of ghee, the sizzle of sweet jalebi and a snowstorm of coconut nadus. Nanny showed Dia how to roll the ladus while Dia told her all about her new school. "Making new friends can be hard," Nanny said. "Maybe I should make some ladus for my classmates," Dia thought. "You know, when things are tough on the outside, it helps to brighten your light on the inside," Nanny said. Dia looked surprised. "There's a light inside me? We all have an inner light, Dia. When you believe in yourself, your light shines bright and darkness fades away." Dia watched the city sparkle, rainbow-colored Rangoli brightened wide open doors, waiting to welcome aunties and uncles, friends and neighbors, and perhaps even a goddess or two. Dia admired Nanny's saris in rich silks and satins. She twirled in a linga made just for her. Together they sparkled in sequins, pink and gold, beautiful bindies and jingle-jangle bangles. "My classmates might like some bangles," Dia thought. "Hundreds of Dias lit up the night." "Happy Diwali, namaste, come in!" Guests arrived in their newest and best, bright, beaming and radiant. "Dia, you have grown so much," they said, making a dash for Nanny's coconut ladus. When the sun sank low, Nanny led Dia outside. "And now, light of my life, you have the most important job of the day." Dia was ready. Together with Nanny, Dia carefully lit little Diwali lamps. "Shining Dias, just like my Dia," Nanny said. Friends, family and food, filled Nanny's garden. Fireworks fizzled in the late evening sky. "Dia, you and I are like these sparklers," Nanny said as their sparklers touched. "We share a special connection and light each other up." Dia felt her inner light brighten. It was the kind of night where everything felt right. But soon, the laughter-filled evening ended with a hundred goodbyes. And just like that, Diwali was over. An unsettling silence sneaked up on Dia. Soon she would have to say goodbye to Nanny and this place that felt like home. Dia felt her light dim. "Nanny sat with Dia. "Even on this moonless night, "the Dias bring light into our world and show us the way. "But they'll be gone tomorrow, Nanny." "Diawali is more than a festival," Nanny said. "It's the light within you. "Your inner light is your special spark. "It will bring you joy and brighten the world around you too." Nanny had saved one last gift for Dia, a box of Dias. "Dias for my Dia," Nanny said, hugging her tight. "Bravely, spread love and light wherever you go in the world." Dia glowed. Thank you so much for requesting this beautiful book about Diwali and thank you so much for your patience in us getting a chance to record it for you. It is such an honor to be able to read the books that you all request. Thank you so much for being here with us. And to all of our premium monthly subscribers, you too help us in so many ways to support us. Thank you for being here, Taun and Gwendolyn, Koji and Mika, Sam, Zamora Rose, Hadi and Zia, Elle and Jonah, Emmy and Hazel, George and Jennings and Willow, Ellis and Hugo and Bo. Blake and Theo, Priscilla and Arlo, Clara, Elliot, Vivian, Eliza. You mean so much to us. Hello from Tula Jane and I. Hello. If you have a special book that you would like to request, please log on to our website at www.motherinthewild.com. Until next time, stay cozy. (gentle music) (gentle music) (gentle music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music)