Days of the week

Told in English, Telugu.

In a little village near Rajahmundry, there lived a girl named Chinni. Chinni was four years old, and she had a big question.

"Ammamma," she asked one evening, "how many days are there in a week?"

Ammamma smiled and pulled Chinni onto her lap. "Seven days, my bangaram. And every day has its own name. Shall we sing them?"

Chinni nodded. So Ammamma began to sing, clapping softly.

Aadivaaram, Somavaaram, round and round we go, Mangalavaaram, Budhavaaram, the days come in a row. Guruvaaram, Shukravaaram, Shanivaaram too, Seven little days, and every one is new!

Chinni clapped her hands. "Again, Ammamma!"

"First," said Ammamma, "let me tell you what we do on each day."

"On Aadivaaram, Nanna does not go to work. He takes you to the river to watch the boats. Because Nanna is home, the whole house is full of laughing."

"On Somavaaram, a new week begins. You put on your clean frock and walk to the anganwadi with your friend Ravi."

"On Mangalavaaram, Amma buys fresh vegetables at the market. Because the tomatoes are fresh, she makes tasty tomato pappu for lunch."

"On Budhavaaram, you water the tulasi plant with me. Because we water it, the leaves stay green and happy."

"On Guruvaaram, your teacher tells a story at school. You come home and tell it to me, and I listen with both my ears."

"On Shukravaaram, we draw muggulu in front of the house with rice flour. The little ants come and nibble the flour. Because we share, even the ants have a feast."

"On Shanivaaram, Thatha comes home early from the fields and brings you a sweet guava. Because you share it with your baby brother, both of you smile."

"And then?" asked Chinni.

"And then it is Aadivaaram again! The week goes round and round, like the wheel of a bullock cart."

Chinni wanted to sing all by herself. "Aadivaaram, Somavaaram, Shukravaaram!" she sang.

Ammamma laughed gently. "Oh, you jumped too far, little frog! Let us use our fingers." She held up Chinni's small hand and the thumb of the other hand too. They touched one finger for each day. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Now can you sing with us? Hold up your fingers and count along.

Aadivaaram, Somavaaram, round and round we go, Mangalavaaram, Budhavaaram, the days come in a row. Guruvaaram, Shukravaaram, Shanivaaram too, Seven little days, and every one is new!

This time Chinni sang every day in the right order. Ammamma kissed her forehead. "Very good, bangaram!"

Then Ammamma asked, "Tell me, Chinni, what day is it today?"

Chinni thought and thought. "Today we drew muggulu, and the ants had a feast. So today is Shukravaaram!"

"Yes!" said Ammamma. "And what comes tomorrow?"

Chinni's eyes grew big. "Shanivaaram! Thatha will bring me a sweet guava!"

"That's right," said Ammamma softly. "But first, you must sleep."

Chinni lay down on the mat and closed her eyes. Very quietly, she sang the song one more time. Aadivaaram, Somavaaram, round and round we go. And before she reached Shanivaaram, she was fast asleep, dreaming of guavas.

Good night, little one. Tomorrow is a brand-new day.