From runaway adventures to stories about rebel girls, our guest editors talk about their favourite books. Read on to find out more.
The Young World team had six children joining them as guest editors for a day. Here are some books they enjoyed reading and recommend.
Click on the hotspots to find out more about the book.
Hungry? Try this popular recipe and whip up Chinese-style stir-fried noodles for a delectable meal. Simply follow the instructions.
In the mood for a tasty meal? Go no further! This vegetable chow mein is simply delicious.
Drag the slider to see how the dish is made. Make sure to use kitchen equipment in the presence of an adult.
Another week, and despite the festivities, so much has been happening around the country.
Air India staff at Mumbai airport went on strike, causing several flights to be delayed, South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook visited the Taj Mahal in Agra and admired its beauty, and members of the Sadar Bazar Welfare Association staged a ‘green’ protest on the occasion of Deepavali to slam the SC banning hazardous crackers, by putting crackers inside green vegetables, as it was the only way they could sell ‘green crackers’.
Click on the hotspots to find out more.
Deepavali is a time to revel in the victory of good over evil, and the birth of all things auspicious. Watch the animated story to see one of the legends that surround the festival.
The festival of lights is here. Don your new clothes, enjoy the delicacies and burst some crackers… but set aside some time to get familiar with some fascinating legends that surround Deepavali.
Victorious Rama
Narakasura Killed
One of the most popular legends is that of the demon Naraka, said to be the son of Bhumi, the Earth and Lord Vishnu’s varaha avatar (boar). Naraka was the king of Pragjyotishpur and a powerful ruler. He terrorised everyone on Earth. Not satisfied, he turned his gaze on swarga, heaven, and attacked the devas. Indra, the lord of the devas too was unable to match the demon’s prowess and had to surrender to Naraka. He then stole the earrings of Aditi, the mother of the gods, and later, kidnapped 16,000 women. The gods approached Krishna to subdue Naraka and he along with his wife Satyabhama, fought the demon and his forces. Finally, Krishna killed the demon and returned to his kingdom at dawn, after rescuing the 16,000 women that the asura had held captive. On his return, the womenfolk massaged scented oil onto Krishna’s body and bathed him, in order to wash away the demon’s blood. This day is celebrated as Narakachaturdasi, and thus the custom (especially in Maharashtra and South India) of why people have an oil bath before sunrise.
Welcoming Lakshmi
There was a time when the devas incurred the wrath of a sage and lost their immortality. To become immortal again, they had to churn Ksheerasagara, or the milky ocean, for amrit, the divine nectar of immortality. For this, they sought the help of their cousins, the asuras. The churning of the ocean gave the devas and asuras many wondrous things — Ucchaishravas , the divine horse, kalpavriksha , the wish giving tree, the apsaras of swarga, Menaka, Rambha, Tillottama and so on. Out of this churning also emerged Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Thus, this day is also said to be Deepavali when Lakshmi Pooja is performed to honour the goddess. According to another legend, it is on Deepavali that Vamana, the fifth avatar of Lord Vishnu, rescued Lakshmi from the prison of King Bali, another reason why the goddess is worshipped on this day.
It’s always fun to get your hands busy and create different types of craft. Be different this festive season. Let your creativity shine through with this do-it-yourself fireless diya!
Jamini Roy is among the “Nine Masters” whose work are considered to be Indian art treasures. Learn more about this great Indian artist while you try to set right three of his paintings.
Jamini Roy is one of the most influential and famous artists whose works have contributed to the emergence of modern Indian art.
Born on April 11, 1887, in a village in West Bengal, Roy began his career as a commissioned portrait painter, painting in the British style of Post-Impressionist landscape and portrait painting. In the early 1920s, he suddenly gave it up and switched to the indigenous style inspired by Bengali folk traditions, especially the Kalighat style of painting – large almond-shaped eyes, round faces, simple, dark lines, and sharp features.
Roy’s subjects included Indian mythology, Santhal tribe of Bengal, scenes from everyday life, and animals. He even ditched the canvas for traditional materials like mats, cloth, and wood, and natural mineral and vegetable-based pigments for the colours.
Some of his famous works include “Ramayana” – a series covering 17 canvases, also considered his magnum opus; “Bride and two Companions”; and “Dual Cats with one Crayfish”.
Try your hand at these shuffle puzzles to see if you can put the different parts of the painting in the right order.
“Boating”
“Cat and Lobster”
Can you separate the facts from the myths? Put your mind to a little exercise and test your knowledge with this fitness challenge and see how well you do.
Exercise is a great way to stay in shape. This mental exercise will help keep your brain in top form. Put yourself to the test…
A visit to the mithai-wala is sure to leave you confused. So, here’s a solution. Step into the kitchen and whip up some delicacies.
One of the most sparkling festivals of the year is here. Before gobbling up all the special treats, why not celebrate with a crossword to know all about the festive season?
October 23 is celebrated as the day of the snow leopards. But there is still a lot we don’t know about them. Read on to learn some fascinating facts about them.
Lions and tigers get all the glory, but there’s another big cat that deserves our attention — the snow leopard. These beautiful felines are one of the most elusive mammals in the world.
To honour these gorgeous cats — the International Snow Leopard Day is celebrated on October 23. This day, is a reminder to all of us beyond the 12 countries where snow leopards are found, that it is our collective responsibility to conserve the species and its ecosystem.
Here are 4 other things you might not know about snow leopards.
