How RedFest storyteller Sarika Besesar got her son into Hindu stories
A mother’s love for her son’s cultivation inspired her to write books to help him understand Hindu lore.
One of the hyper-special aspects of RedFest remains that the festival holds so much variety that it becomes all too possible to miss out on unique, thrilling treats… such as the rare opportunity to have a story read to you.
Literature is important in the cultivation of well-rounded adults. Of equal importance to literature, arguably, is equal representation in stories which reflect humanity’s diversity.
Local Bryanston writer and storyteller Sarika Besesar brought a truly unique art to this year’s RedFest. Besesar read from the Hindu children’s fables that she has been writing and self-publishing since 2020 when her son was three years old. She explained how she struggled to find less complex and graphic accounts of Hindi stories, which tend to depict graphic violence and skint illustration.
“I started during Covid,” said Besesar. “It’s a passion project of mine aimed at making Hinduism accessible to all with these books.”
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Besesar, furthermore, was moved to begin this journey through a desire for there to be literature that’s more appropriate for her son’s holistic cultivation and development.
“I watched my son regurgitate stories like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk, but when I read him Hindi stories, it wasn’t fully hitting home.
“So, I thought I would try and package these stories in a way that he would understand – and that’s where this journey began, really. It was for him.”
@caxtonjoburgnorth A mother’s love for her son’s cultivation inspired her write books to help him understand Hindu lore. Read more on the Sabdton Chronicle website.
Besesar reflected on how her active involvement as a Redhill School parent led to the opportunity for her to promote, read, and sell her books at the school’s arts festival. She also explained how she manages the distribution process for her books.
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“I’m very involved in the Sandton community; it’s been a really lovely reception at RedFest,” said Besesar. “We’ve got a lot of parents who are interested in our books. For every book sold, I donate one book to a child less privileged. In order to do this, I must be responsible with my distribution so that I can manage the process, keeping costs as low as possible. I’ve got a website, where I sell my books online.”
The market Besesar has tapped into is a truly beautiful one, as many people share in the collective childhood recollection of story time – whether at school from teachers or at home from parents. Sometimes, all someone needs to enjoy their day is to settle in for an animated story told with compassion by an artist with a cool talent for words to share with the world.
“It’s not a new concept for me – wherever I can tell a story, then I’ll be there, ready to tell a story.
“I try to do as many readings as I can, not just at RedFest, but all around: at schools, libraries, even at Exclusive Books.”
Besesar’s books are chiefly available from her website on www.storiesforshiv.com
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