Chapter 2: Going to the Mela
Chapter at a Glance
A mela has come to town, and sisters Nita and Radha are very excited. Their Dadiji first says she cannot come because her legs hurt, but the family promises to take care of her, so she agrees. Their neighbours and close friends Sneha and Rohit join them, while Mohan Chacha and his family, who arrive by train, plan to meet them at the mela by city bus and autorickshaw. Nita holds Dadiji’s hand and walks carefully to the bus stop. The conductor and Nita’s father help Dadiji into a seat reserved for older people, and Rohit’s father buys five full and four half tickets. The children are told not to put their hands or heads out of the window.
At the mela ground there is a map of the stalls, and an ambulance, a police jeep, a fire engine and a ‘Lost and Found’ booth with volunteers. Mohan Chacha brings a wheelchair for Dadiji. The children buy spinning tops, puppets, phirkis and dolls, ride the merry-go-round and the giant wheel, buy bangles and watch a magic show.
Before eating, they wash their hands. They enjoy gol gappas, chaat, chhole kulche, jalebi with rabri and kulfi, and then put all their waste in the dustbin. On the way out they see a police dog helping a police officer. The chapter teaches us about travelling safely, caring for elders, the people who work at a mela, and reading a simple map. It also tells us about the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest gathering of people.
Word Meanings
| Word | Simple Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mela | A big fair with stalls, rides, games and food |
| Conductor | The person on a bus who gives tickets |
| Reserved seat | A seat kept for a special person, like an elderly person |
| Half ticket | A cheaper ticket for children |
| Autorickshaw | A small three-wheeled vehicle that carries passengers |
| Stall | A small shop at a mela |
| Wheelchair | A chair with wheels for people who cannot walk easily |
| Volunteer | A person who helps without being paid |
| Lost and Found | A place where lost things or lost children are kept safe until found |
| Phirki | A paper pinwheel that spins in the wind |
| Puppet | A toy doll moved by strings or by hand |
| Giant wheel | A very big wheel ride at a fair |
| Halwai | A person who makes sweets |
| Sketch | A simple drawing or map |
Important Topics
1. Preparing for the Mela
- Fill water bottles and keep a bag ready.
- Travel together with family and neighbours.
- Care for elders like Dadiji on the way.
2. Travelling Safely
- Walk carefully and watch vehicles on both sides of the road.
- Help elders get on the bus; they have reserved seats.
- Sit properly; do not jump around.
- Do not put your hands or head out of the window.
3. Safety Arrangements at the Mela
| Arrangement | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Map of the mela | Shows where stalls are |
| Ambulance | Takes sick or injured people to hospital |
| Fire engine | Puts out fires |
| Police jeep and police dog | Keep people safe; the dog sniffs out danger and helps find things |
| Lost and Found booth | Helps find lost children or things |
| Wheelchair | Helps elders move around |
4. Fun at the Mela
- Toys: spinning tops, puppets, phirkis, dolls.
- Rides: merry-go-round, giant wheel.
- Other: bangles, trinkets, magic show.
- Food: gol gappas, chaat, chhole kulche, jalebi with rabri, kulfi.
5. Good Habits
- Wash hands before eating.
- Put waste in the dustbin.
6. Kumbh Mela
- The world’s biggest gathering of people.
- Held on the banks of the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari and Shipra.
- Held once every 12 years at Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik and Ujjain.
Question-Answers
Very Short Answer Questions
- Who are Nita and Radha going to the mela with? Their family, Dadiji, neighbours and Mohan Chacha’s family.
- Why did Dadiji not want to go at first? Her legs hurt.
- Who are Sneha and Rohit? Nita’s neighbours and close friends.
- What was the bus number? 401.
- How many tickets did Rohit’s father buy? Five full and four half tickets.
- What did Mohan Chacha get for Dadiji? A wheelchair.
- Name two rides at the mela. Merry-go-round and giant wheel.
- What did the children do before eating? They washed their hands.
- Who was with the police officer? A police dog.
- How often is the Kumbh Mela held? Once every 12 years.
Short Answer Questions
Q1. How did the family take care of Dadiji?
Nita held her hand and led her slowly to the bus stop. The conductor and Nita’s father helped her onto the bus, where she sat in a reserved seat. At the mela, Mohan Chacha got her a wheelchair.
Q2. What is the purpose of the ‘Lost and Found’ booth?
It helps people find children or things they have lost in the crowd. Volunteers keep them safe until they are claimed.
Q3. Why are fire engines and ambulances present at a mela?
Many people gather at a mela. If there is a fire or someone gets hurt or sick, help can reach quickly.
Q4. What is the role of the police dog?
A police dog helps the police keep people safe. It can sniff out dangerous things and help find missing people or objects.
Q5. What good habits did the children follow while eating?
They washed their hands before eating and put all their waste in the dustbin afterwards.
Long Answer Questions
Q1. Describe what Nita, Radha and their friends did at the mela.
At the entrance they saw a map of the stalls and safety vehicles. They visited the toy stall and bought spinning tops, puppets, phirkis and dolls. They rode the merry-go-round and the giant wheel. Sneha and Radha bought bangles and trinkets. They watched a magic show. Then they washed their hands and ate gol gappas, chaat, chhole kulche, jalebi with rabri and kulfi, and threw their waste in the dustbin.
Q2. How can we stay safe while travelling?
We should walk carefully on the road and look at vehicles coming from both sides. We should hold the hands of elders or small children. In a bus we should sit properly and not jump around. We should never put our hands or head out of the window. We should follow traffic signals and road signs.
Textbook Exercise Answers
A1. How can we care for our elders?
We can hold their hands while walking, help them sit, carry their bags, give them seats, get them a wheelchair if needed, and spend time talking with them.
A2. What kinds of vehicles do we see around us?
Bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, cars, buses, autorickshaws, trucks, trains, ambulances and tractors.
A3. How can we ensure safety during travel?
Follow traffic rules, use the zebra crossing, wear a seat belt or helmet, do not lean out of windows, and stay with elders.
B. Match the pictures with the words.
Volunteer, Firefighter, Halwai (Confectioner), Toy seller, Puppeteer, Bangle seller, Police officer, Medical attendant and Mehendi artist are the people who work at a mela. Write each word below the matching picture in the book.
C. Draw. Draw and label vehicles such as a bus, car, bicycle, scooter and autorickshaw.
D. Mock mela. Set up stalls for toys, food and bangles in class, and take turns acting as buyers and sellers using play money.
Other in-text questions
- How do you prepare for a trip? Pack water, food, a cap and needed things, and tell elders where you are going.
- How were melas different when our elders were young? They had fewer rides and more local crafts, folk shows and animal fairs.