Source: INDIA New England News
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - Pinaki Deb was careful in selecting books for his children. A resident of Burlington, Mass. he had in his hands a few titles of the Amar Chitra Katha series of comics for kids. "I want to get titles that we can relate to in America," he said, explaining his choice of titles for his children - "Jataka Tales" and "Panchatantra" among them.
His children, he said, "should be somewhere here. As long as they are enjoying themselves, I’m fine."
Deb’s children were not the only ones enjoying the festivities at the fifth annual BalaMela organized by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh on the occasion of Makar Sankranthi. The event, held at the O’Keefe Technical School in Framingham on Jan. 13, attracted around 475 people, according to organizers.
Dhananjay Jhawlekar, secretary of the New England branch of the organization, said the idea was to give the children an opportunity to enjoy some activities during the winter. "They have not seen melas (fairs) the way it is in India," he said. "This is to give them an opportunity to enjoy themselves and be proud of their heritage."