Not an yearly one like the United Kingdom, but one that comes about only once in a long while.
On Thursday, it was Lord Krishna's birthday. This was followed by a day marked as Teachers' Day all over the country and then the regular weekend.
When we were young, Krishna Janmasthami (Lord Krishna's birthday) - was a day to look forward to. It was a day of fasting, praying and feasting.
The morning would start with a resolve to fast and to only have fruits during the day. But the moment the local halwai (sweetmaker) started making samosas, pakoras or dosa, that resolve just melted away.
In any case, it was a day of hard work. Early in the morning, some of us would set out in search of grey sand, red sand and bricks to make a model based on the life on Krishna. Almost always, this would be Krishna's father, Vasudeva - negotiating a flooded River Yamuna - to protect his newborn from the threat of Krishna's murderous uncle, Kansa.
Local shopkeepers sold models of the Vasudeva, Krishna and other key characters of this episode, but one had to put together the river, the bridge, the forest and houses around the river. And to put a baby swing, with an idol of Krishna, which people could rock before offering money or sweets.
Slightly embarrassed to admit it, but the possibility of collecting money was a big attraction for us and other kids in the locality. That could buy us new badminton rackets or cricket balls or tennis balls.
So, the different sands came in handy for landscaping and the saplings, picked up from the park, made for trees. The bricks would mark the inner sanctum of our model temple.
And praying, well, that was left to the grown-ups. After all, they were the only ones with money to back up their religious convictions.
The festival would be over at midnight, when we would get to eat all the home-made goodies prepared by our families.
One of us kept the collection, for accounting the following day. Once the costs related to the model temple were reimbursed, it was time to decide on the shopping list.
This year, the little one had an opportunity to participate in the festival. "I would be Radha. I would be Radha", she chirped from three days before.
The Landlady had asked if she was interested in being Krishna's lady love and the little one was quite excited. Her Mum got together a nice dress and ornaments for the big day.
After having spent most of the day practising dance (our Landlady seems to be Local Cultural Coordinator), the little one was ready for the evening.
Like most social functions in Delhi, this one too had a tent, microphones, loudspeakers, pedestals, chairs and a devotional band to sing praises of the Lord.
The lead singer peppered his bhajans, some based on popular Hindi film numbers, with sermons on the value of religious education to the little ones.
Apart from the old residents of the neighbourhood, most of those in attendance were parents of the kids participating in the cultural function.
The Cultural Coordinator had spent days preparing for the function. But it is the monsoon season, and you can never be completely sure. So, she had arranged for multiple Krishnas and Radhas.
Our little was surprised to see another Radha when the kids' show began. Given the build-up of the preceding days, she was heart-broken. But I wanted to be Radha. I am looking so pretty, so why do they have another Radha?, she sobbed while her Mum comforted her.
It dawned later that there were some last-minute adjustments to the cast. To keep the local residents' association is good humour, the Landlady had made the grand-daughter of the President, Krishna, and that of another office-bearer, Radha.
She did not deem it necessary to inform the other girls. So, our Radha turned into one of Radha's four mates.
But that was only a temporary setback. She was soon on her own, dancing to the Cultural Coordinator's slightly off-key music collection. Some steps she remembered from her practice. Some she made up.
The little one loves dancing. She enjoyed being in the limelight so much that she forgot the disappointment of not being Radha. With Mum and Dad busy taking pictures and video, she felt encouraged.
It was only the lure of a packet of crisps and chocolate bar that drew her away.
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