Let’s get creative! Follow these instructions and learn how to draw a frog on your own.
Want to get creative but don’t know how to get started? Well, we’ve got your back. Follow the steps below and learn how to draw your very own frog.
What is the festival of Pongal, celebrated in Tamil Nadu, all about? Learn all about it and also try your hand at the word activity in the end.
Pongalo Pongal! Pongalo Pongal! These happy cries can only mean one thing. The harvest festival of Pongal is here and it’s time to make merry. The festivities are all about celebrating the bountiful gifts of nature and reminding ourselves of the close association between man and nature — the crops, birds, bees, cattle, and the sun.
Falling in January, the day marks the beginning of the sun’s six-month journey northwards — signalling the changing seasons. As the chilly winter gives way to a bright, warm summer, the prospect of a prosperous harvest of crops brings a whole lot of cheer. In Tamil Nadu, Pongal is a grand four-day spectacle with a host of customs and traditions.
Day 1: Bhogi
‘Out with the old’
This is the day before Pongal, when all old and unwanted things are discarded and burnt in bonfires of wood and cow dung cakes. Houses are thoroughly cleaned and spruced up. Entrances are adorned with sugarcane. The practice signifies new beginnings and the elimination of all unwanted and negative energy.
Day 2: Pongal
‘Thank you, Surya’
This is the main day, where all the action takes place. Beautiful kolams (rangolis) are drawn in front of houses and people dress up in traditional clothes. Families gather out in the open around earthen pots in which rice and milk are boiled, as a gesture of gratitude to the sun god. When the pot overflows, hearts overflow with joy. Plenty of delicacies are prepared and served, including the quintessential pongal.
Day 3: Maatu Pongal
‘Cattle craze’
On this day, the spotlight shifts to the farmer’s friends — the cattle. The cattle are decked up to look their finest — with colourful bells, garlands and trinkets. They are fed well and given a much needed day of rest, when they can wander around happily without having to work. There’s an unmistakable carnival-like atmosphere in the streets and it’s a jolly day indeed. The traditional Jallikattu (bull taming) is also a feature. Another interesting tradition is that of Kanu Pidi, where girls and women offer a feast of rice, vegetables, bananas, and pongal on ginger or turmeric leaves. This is left outside for the crows to share and it is an occasion for women to pray for the well being of their brothers.
Day 4: Kaanum Pongal
‘Family day out’
The last day is set aside for family reunions and meetings. People flock to public places such as beaches and enjoy a vibrant and happy day. The year’s Pongal festivities come to a close, and everyone is filled with hope for a happy and prosperous year ahead.
Apart from Tamil Nadu, the festival is celebrated elsewhere in India also. Gujarat hosts the Uttarayaan kite festival, which has now become an international event. In Punjab, Lohri is celebrated with great gusto as people build bonfires in the fields and break into the bhangra. In Assam the Magh Bighu celebrations see people create bhelaghars and bonfire towers called meji and brave the cold to watch them warm.
Here is an activity for you. Fit these words into their correct place in the grid.
Sometimes fitness can also mean thinking. Put on your thinking caps and figure out this word.
This week, we bring you a word puzzle all set to ignite your grey cells. The word you need to guess is related to fitness. Psssst! You might spot this person in the park in the mornings.
How to play
You have to guess the hidden word in as few attempts as possible. You have up to 6 attempts. After each attempt, letters will be shown in three colours. If the letter is green, it is present in the word and is in the right place. If the letter is yellow, it is present in the word but is not in the right place. If the letter is grey, then it is not present in the word.
Where do scorpions thrive? Where do whales jive? Learn more about habitats with this interactive game.
Did you know that every animal and plant has a specific home called a habitat? Some love the deep oceans, while others thrive in sunny deserts or lush forests.
Game for you! The below sets of cards have one habitat, one plant and one animal. Here’s an example for you.
Can you complete the below sets? Drag and drop the cards in the correct boxes.
Another set for you:
What do the words area and perimeter mean? How are they connected to shapes? Find out with this video.
The night skies this month offer plenty to look forward to. What are you waiting for? Let’s get stargazing!
January 2025 offers a variety of celestial events for stargazers. Marvel at a dazzling sight as four bright planets grace the evening sky. Don’t miss the stunning Venus-Saturn conjunction, the Moon hiding Mars in an occultation, and a sprinkle of meteors lighting up the night!
What’s your favourite instrument? Do you and your favourite instrument share the same characteristics?
Musical instruments are classified into five types. They are percussion, woodwind, string, brass, and keyboard. They are categorised according to their sounds, characteristics, and how the sounds are produced. This method of classification is called the Hornbostel-Sachs or Sachs-Hornbostel system.
From the earliest times humans have created music. From clapping their hands to singing to keeping time with sticks against rocks, there has always been a need to create sounds. With the need to create newer sounds, musical instruments have been invented.
Try this for-fun-only personality quiz to find out which instrument you resemble the most.
Attached to seemingly harmless kites is a dangerous killer. Read on to know more about the dangers of manja.
Soon, the clear blue winter skies of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan will be dotted with hundreds of colourful kites in various shades, shapes and sizes. Kite-flying marks Makara Sankaranti, celebrated with great gusto here by people of all ages. But firmly attached to this popular toy is a deadly killer of birds and, sometimes, even humans. Are you wondering what that is? Read on…
Click on ‘turn’ to flip the card. Click on the arrow to move to the next card.
Cholas, Pandyas, Guptas and Mughals… All of them had one thing in common. Find out more using this crossword.
How strong are you when it comes to knowing what happened in the past? This crossword is all about the India that was. Solve it to see how many you know or learn along the way.
Football is a favourite with many. Even if it isn’t you cannot help but catch the action as it is an infectious game.
Today, football is a popular sport. If there is a match anywhere in the world you are sure to be glued to your television screen watching the action unfold.
How did football come to be? It is believed that this game has its roots in ancient China. However, the modern version of the game began on the streets of medieval England. Matches were played between neighbouring towns.
It is the Football Association, the English football’s governing body, that codified the laws of the game in 1863.
Task for you! Can you match the football player with his country?
