The Bogoli Phut Days

Bogoli (bow-go-lee): Egret Phut (ph-oo-tt): Spot ‘There is a myth in Assam that the white spots one gets on one’s fingernails are actually a gift from the bogoli. As children, we recited a rhyme with our hands held before us each time we saw the bird, trying to coax it into giving us a few lucky spots.’ Seven-year-old Pitki is on her way to Sekoni Tea Estate in Assam to visit her grandparents for the winter holidays. She travels to wildlife sanctuaries in Assam, listens to ancient Assamese folk tales that her Aitama (grandma) tells her and catches fish with her brother, Dondi. Fun and effortlessly informative, The Bogoli Phut Days is a delightful introduction to Assam, its culture, geography and folklore. Beautifully illustrated and including evocative retellings of Assamese folk tales, this is a book for children of all ages – to read alone or along with their parents and grandparents. Children from Assam will find a new way to connect to their cultural heritage, and the ones from other places will find themselves introduced to a compelling and rich world.