Looking forward to her third birthday celebration

Dubai: Keerthana Rakesh Kalliat, 12, is looking forward to celebrating her birthday, despite the fact that this is only her third.

Her birthday is February 29, 1996 and while it only falls once every four years, she sometimes celebrates before the actual day on February 28, or after the day on March 1.

She said: "Usually I have my birthday on March 1 or February 28, but actually I don't really like having been born on February 29. People say it's really unlucky because my birthday only comes every four years. Other people say I should be happy and that I'm really lucky.

Everybody makes fun of me, saying that I'm only three years old and say that is why I'm short."

She explains that although it only comes once every four years, when it does actually fall on February 29 it's even more special than celebrating it on another day.

"I do have a birthday cake every year and this year we're going to have a big party with all of my family. This is only going to be my third birthday, but it feels much better to celebrate it when it's actually the 29th.

"I'm really, really looking forward to it this year," she enthuses.

Everyone has special birthday memories, but perhaps for Keerthana the memories will be even more special on her official third birthday.