Balmain Razai boosts Orange Generosity- a Children's story

 

Aria stopped talking after Maya her Bunji lost all her hair. 

Bunji: Means friend/mate in Aboriginal.

It was not Maya's fault- just an illness. Seven-year-old Aria was a quiet person anyway, but her teachers did not understand this. 

Aria then started growing her hair, and every few months had it cut and sent to a wig factory so that someone like Maya could use it.

Aria was slim and quiet and Maya was plump and talkative. It could be that opposites attract and they had sat next to each other on the first day of school.

Aria's name was chosen by her mother and honoured an old song. 

Maya's father was Indian so the name respected the ages-old Indian traditions.

Their parents had only said Hello to each other at school functions

Maya's mother wore a sari even though she was Australian and liked cooking Indian sweets. Aria loved Barfi. Maya's Indian grandfather lived with them and each day he was served his vegetarian meal on a large steel plate. The sadness of Maya's illness had cast a cloud of silence on the family. Maya still remained talkative

Aria had Irish ancestry and as you know singing is a great tradition of the culture. Aria's grandmother sang Irish folk songs often. Maya also loved Irish scones made by Aria's family

The illness had surfaced quite suddenly and within a month all of Maya's hair had gone. Luckily at school, everyone was understanding and no one teased her. But you can imagine what a seven-year-old wearing a wing looks like.

The first time Maya had to wear a wig, the family and Aria stood in front of a statue of an Indian goddess, lit small lamps and burned incense sticks. Maya's grandfather had also made a small flower garland.

Maya's grandfather chanted softly, "I am beautiful, the world is beautiful". But somehow from that day Aria went quiet and stopped cutting her hair. Maya also liked going to church with Aria. They both sang the hymns.

Maya hated Aria's silence and repeated the words " I am beautiful, the world is beautiful", whenever she could

I am beautiful, the world is beautiful

One night in her dreams Aria saw these words and a large Elephant smiling at her

"रज़ाई का जादु

razai ka jaadu"

This happened over several nights and Aria always felt happy when the words appeared. What did they mean? What language were these?

Aria over the next few nights was able to write these down. Her sadness lifted whenever she looked at these words

The librarian at Balmain Library thought the words were Indian so Aria showed these to Maya's family and translated to " The Magic Doona". They advised that while Doona was the closest to the word Razai, these were made using different methods. Razai is completely handstitched 

Aria typed in the word " Razai" and " Balmain" on her computer. A Facebook post by a shop called India in Balmain came up

Aria and her grandfather visited the shop as soon as they could and asked about the Razai...There were so many kinds- with beautiful prints of flowers, elephants, palm trees, leaves, mangoes and feathers. All filled with just cotton wool.

Aria slowly saved up to buy the one with an Elephant on it. Her grandmother and Maya also helped her.

The first time she used the Razai, she felt her hair growing at a much faster pace. The next day she cut it all off and sent it the wig factory. Night after night her hair grew quickly to make at least five wigs per day. She was overjoyed by the results and spoke to her grandfather for the first time in many months.

" I was quiet because my hair was growing so slowly. I felt helpless. Now I can help Maya even more. Thanks to the रज़ाई का जादु" spot

written for India in Balmain

indiainbalmain.blogspot.com

pic of a Madhya Pradesh Breakfast. Jalebi and spicy puffed Rice.