India

I have tall, snowy mountains that wear white hats and tickle the clouds. I have warm, sandy beaches where the little waves come to say hello to your toes. In my busy, happy cities, you can hear people laughing and smell yummy spices floating in the air. My long, sleepy rivers flow through green, green fields where flowers grow. I am a rainbow of wonderful sights and sounds. I am a big, beautiful land. I am India.

My story is very, very old, like a fairytale. Long ago, kings and queens built sparkling palaces and strong forts that stood tall like giants. One king, named Shah Jahan, loved his queen so much that he built a beautiful, shiny white palace for her called the Taj Mahal. It is like a giant love letter made of stone. A very kind and wise man named Mahatma Gandhi taught everyone to be peaceful and share with their friends. He helped all my people work together. A long time ago, on August 15th, 1947, I celebrated a very special day of freedom and friendship, and everyone was so happy.

Today, I am a happy home for so many people who love to celebrate. We light up the night with bright, sparkly lights during a festival called Diwali. We play with colorful powders and paint the world a rainbow during a festival called Holi. We dance to exciting music that makes your feet want to wiggle, and we eat delicious foods like sweet, juicy mangoes and warm, fluffy bread. I love being a place where so many different stories, songs, and smiles live together. I am here to remind you that the world is full of color and friendship, and I hope you will come and see my wonders one day.