Happy 17th birthday!

Today, my precious girl in India, Divya, has turned 17 years old. I just love her to pieces! She has been my best letter writer out of all my sponsored children. I have received 8 wonderful letters from her since she was sponsored by me last June.

Here are some birthday traditions common in India..

• In India children wear new clothes on their birthday. A child may rise at daybreak and get dressed in new clothes. The child kneels and touches the feet of their parents as a sign of respect. They then all visit a shrine, where they pray and the child is blessed. In the afternoon there might be a meal that includes a spicy vegetable stew called curry and chutney which is a spicy fruit relish. The dessert is a treat known as dudh pakh, which is a rice like pudding. They might also stir in pistachios, almonds, raisins, and a spice called cardamom. To receive a birthday present wrapped in black and white is considered bad luck.  janmadin mubārak ho is how you can say Happy birthday