Bring in the patriotic fervour in kids

Today, when I saw the newspapers, I realised all I could see is "Republic day sale" supplements..will this what are kids grow upto...as the great sale day? The republic day news is very small.

Its upto us only to inculcate the sense of patriotism in them... right from now...

Today, Republic Day is celebrated with much enthusiasm all over the country, especially in the capital, New Delhi, where the celebrations start with the President’s speech to the nation. After this, he hoists the tri-coloured Indian flag and whole nation stands up to sing the National Anthem. To mark the importance of this occasion, every year a grand parade is held, which includes a march past and drills by the armed forces. This is followed by a pageant of spectacular displays from different states.

Medals of bravery are awarded to the people from the armed forces for their exceptional courage in the field and also to civilians, who have distinguished themselves by their different acts of valour. Children too who have shown bravery in a particular area are awarded by the President.

Listening to these bravery stories, would be something we would look upto when we were kids. 

The State parades were the greatest attraction. The "Shehanai Vaadan" by Padnit Bismillah Khan, can give you those goosepimples... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U4WDIjbnpI

Listening to patriotic songs right from when they are small, is something that they recognise, even when they become older. These songs have the magic of generating patriotic feelings. My lil one particularly likes, "nanha munha rahi hoon", "hind desh ke nivasi", "hum honge kamayab". 

Learning and singing our national anthem is something they can always do..

Some of our recommended patriotic songs for kids..

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFj6Xc4N1PSaXNx1Sxjv0LPIV9SSmB21L

Listen to them with your kids

See the national parade and talk about bravery awards...

Dressing up specially in orange or white or green, will add on to the spirit. 

 Maa tuzhe Salaam!

Jai Hind!

Winter Harvest Festival

Makar Sankranthi is one of the most auspicious days for the Hindus, and is celebrated in almost all parts of the country in myriad cultural forms, with great devotion, fervor & gaiety. Lakhs of people take a dip in places like Ganga Sagar & Prayag and pray to Lord Sun. Sankranthi is a festival of thanksgiving to nature. It is held during the season when rice and other cereals are harvested. For as long as people have been planting and gathering food, there has been some form of harvest festival.

People all over the world including the Japanese, Indians, Romans, Chinese and Korean have special days when they all give thanks for a bountiful harvest. The names, rituals and the tradition of these festivals may differ in their forms and presentations but their spirit is same, that is, a day is set aside to reflect on nature’s blessings like Chu’sok in Korea, Tori no Ichi in Japan, Ulavar Thirunaal in SriLanka, Thanksgiving in USA, Kwaanza in Africa.

Sankranthi is the only festival of Hindus that follows a solar calendar and is celebrated on the fourteenth day of January every year. This date is considered auspicious as it marks the sun’s entry into Makaram Rashi or the Tropic of Capricorn from the Tropic of Cancer.

This festival is celebrated as Pongal in the state of Tamil Nadu, ‘Bhogali Bihu’ in the North Eastern State of Assam, ‘Lohri’ in Punjab, ‘Bhogi’ in Andhra Pradesh and ‘Makar Sankranti’ in the rest of the country, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal.

In Tamil Nadu, Pongal is a four day celebration. The first day of Pongal called Bhogi, is celebrated as a thanksgiving for rain, which results in an abundance of the harvest, thereby bringing plenty and prosperity to the land. This day is meant for domestic activities and of being together with the family members. Homes are cleaned, whitewashed and decorated with “Kolam -floor designs drawn in the white paste of newly harvested rice with outlines of red mud.

The Second day of Pongal, known as Surya Pongal, is a thanksgiving to the Sun.

The third day is known as Mattu Pongal, the day of Pongal for cows. This is a day when cattle are given a well deserved day of rest.

The culmination of the Pongal celebrations is called Kaanum Pongal. It is dedicated to the sun as the sun is the symbol of life on Earth.

Let kids enjoy the spirit of Sankanti by decorating some sugarcane cutouts, making kites’, making Sankranti cards with grains or making some til laddus :)

Tilgul gya goad bola!

References: Wikipedia