Indian-born NYC author launches new book about Holi 2023

A prominent Indian-born, New York-based children’s book author has published a new book about Holi with the intention of educating young readers about the celebration and the cultural history of India. Along with Pridhee Kapoor, Anu Sehgal, founder and president of The Cultural Tree, has written ‘Kahaani Rangeeli’ or ‘Colorful Tale’ about the Hindu celebration of Holi.

This book combines two of my interests: language and culture. It is written in Hindi and is a magnificent narrative about Krishna, one of the most revered Hindu deities, and his companions,” Sehgal told PTI.

She stated that the book honors an old Hindu tale while also describing how to celebrate Holi. This book teaches children and their families the value of friendship and love. In addition, they learn that friendship has no borders and must be maintained.” The famed New York Public Library and the Rubin Museum were among the locations in the city where Sehgal hosted special reading sessions for young children from the diaspora and other countries and ethnicities.

Sehgal stated that the purpose of her upcoming novels is to commemorate some of India’s lesser-known festivals and to dive more deeply into those that are already recognized by the worldwide public and young readers.

The book ‘Kahaani Rangeeli’ is published by T4Tales, and Alicia Souza drew it.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day earlier this month, Sehgal was honored by The Society of Foreign Consuls in New York at a special ceremony held at the Consulate General of India in New York. She was the only woman from India to get this honor. The Society of Foreign Consuls in New York, founded in 1925, is an organization that unites foreign consulates and represents the NY diplomatic corps.

Sehgal is a marketer by trade, with an MBA from Yale University, and has about 15 years of experience in the business world. The Culture Tree promotes India-related cultural literacy via language, educational, and cultural initiatives. Its purpose is to foster “empathy, respect, and understanding for all cultures and to promote inclusion, while also addressing concerns of identity within heritage cultures. The firm has received four awards from the New York City Mayor’s office, and former Mayor Bill de Blasio proclaimed June 20, 2021 The Cultural Tree Day in New York City.

Sehgal is the principal Indian children’s educator at the New York Public Library and is also directing a series of programs at Asia Society that reflect the many Indian faiths.

In celebration of India’s 75 years of independence, the Consulate General of India in New York, The Culture Tree, and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) launched special activities and interactive programming in April of last year, including traditional paintings, music, and stories that honoured India’s people, culture, and achievements.

Sehgal had stated, “With such activities, we can provide cross-cultural exposure that may help create knowledgeable, open-minded, and courteous persons, as well as avenues for children and families from the diaspora to connect with and celebrate their history.”