The Hare and The Tortorise

One of Aesop’s Fables

Once upon a time there was a hare who, boasting how he could run faster than anyone else, was forever teasing tortoise for its slowness. Then one day, the irate tortoise answered back: “Who do you think you are? There’s no denying you’re swift, but even you can be beaten!” The hare squealed with laughter.

“Beaten in a race? By whom? Not you, surely! I bet there’s nobody in the world that can win against me, I’m so speedy. Now, why don’t you try?”

Annoyed by such bragging, the tortoise accepted the challenge. A course was planned, and the next day at dawn they stood at the starting line. The hare yawned sleepily as the meek tortoise trudged slowly off. When the hare saw how painfully slow his rival was, he decided, half asleep on his feet, to have a quick nap. “Take your time!” he said. “I’ll have forty winks and catch up with you in a minute.”

The hare woke with a start from a fitful sleep and gazed round, looking for the tortoise. But the creature was only a short distance away, having barely covered a third of the course. Breathing a sigh of relief, the hare decided he might as well have breakfast too, and off he went to munch some cabbages he had noticed in a nearby field. But the heavy meal and the hot sun made his eyelids droop. With a careless glance at the tortoise, now halfway along the course, he decided to have another snooze before flashing past the winning post. And smiling at the thought of the look on the tortoise’s face when it saw the hare speed by, he fell fast asleep and was soon snoring happily. The sun started to sink, below the horizon, and the tortoise, who had been plodding towards the winning post since morning, was scarcely a yard from the finish. At that very point, the hare woke with a jolt. He could see the tortoise a speck in the distance and away he dashed. He leapt and bounded at a great rate, his tongue lolling, and gasping for breath. Just a little more and he’d be first at the finish. But the hare’s last leap was just too late, for the tortoise had beaten him to the winning post. Poor hare! Tired and in disgrace, he slumped down beside the tortoise who was silently smiling at him.

“Slowly does it every time!” he said. 

Moral of the Story- 

1. Try and try, till you succeed.
2. Never loose your courage.  
3. Never underestimate yourself. 

The City Mouse and The Country Mouse

Once there were two mouse - A City Mouse and A Country Mouse.

A City Mouse once went on a visit to his cousin in the country. His cousin was rough and ready, but he loved him and welcomed him.

Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them freely.

Instead of eating, the City Mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country food, and said: "I cannot understand, Cousin, how you can put up with such poor fare as this, but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country; come you with me and I will show you how to live. When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood the country life."

No sooner said than done: the two mice set off for the town and arrived at the City Mouse's residence late

at night. "You will want some refreshment after our long journey," said the polite Town Mouse, and took his friend into the grand dining room.

There they found the remains of a fine feast, and soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes and all that was nice.

Suddenly they heard growling and barking. "What is that?"said the Country Mouse.
"It is only the dogs of the house," answered the other.
"Only!" said the Country Mouse. "I do not like that music at my dinner."
Just at that moment the door flew open, in came two huge mastiffs, and the two mice had to scamper down and run off.

"Goodbye, Cousin," said the Country Mouse.

"What! going so soon?" said the City Mouse.
"Yes," he replied;

Moral of the Story - Better eat beans and bacon in peace than cakes and jellies in fear. Always be happy in what you have.

Vasant Panchami/ Saraswati Puja

Saraswati Puja is also known as Vasant Panchami. This is a Hindu festival. And on this very day, hindus worship goddess Saraswati for Knowledge, music, art and culture.

In Hindu religion, it is believed that Goddess Saraswati, the hindu goddess of knowledge, music, arts and science, who is also the companion of Brahma, and is also revered as his Shakti (power). It was with her knowledge, that Brahma created the universe. She is a part of trinity "Saraswati", "Lakshmi" and "Parvati". All the three forms help trinity "Brahma", "Vishnu" and "Shiva" in the creation, maintenance and destruction of the Universe.

In India, many people believe if the kids write their first word on this very day, they will do well in their life and career. Traditionally during this festival children are taught to write their first words, Brahmins are invited for lunch, ancestor worship is performed and most educational institutions organize special prayer or puja for Goddess Saraswati.

Every School and colleges, perform the Puja of Goddess Saraswati on this very day, in their Campus area.