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Master of the rainforest

Fierce. Fearless. Formidable. Learn more about this beautiful animal that is facing many threats to its existence.

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What’s the good word?

Long or short, every sentence has to follow the basic rules of grammar. What is that? Every sentence must have a subject and a predicate.

When we write a sentence, we place words in a certain order. That is known as the structure of the sentence. it can be subject, predicate, objects, phrases, punctuation and so on.

Every sentence requires at least a verb and a subject; a verb is an action, and a subject is the noun that does the action.

Following the basic rules of grammar, can you complete these sentences?

Stretch, smile and shine

Here are six poses for you. Arrange them just as you would in a Sudoku grid.

Picdoku is a type of sudoku where the grid contains images or emojis. Dive into this mindbending challenge and arrange the icons to get them in a pattern.

This puzzle is all about Yoga. Can you place the poses in the grid in such a way that each pose appears only once in every row, column and 3*2 box?

All fired up

Today, we use fireworks to celebrate festivals, weddings and more. But did you ever think of how these explosives came to be?

Have you seen how bamboo clumps on fire splutter, split and explode? Well, you have seen the earliest forms of fireworks or crackers, as they are known in India. Baozhu in Chinese — which literally meant ‘exploding bamboo’ — was the predecessor of fireworks. According to Chinese legend, on New Year’s Eve, a monster would come to eat villagers and destroy villages. People burnt bamboo to produce an explosive sound to scare it away. Thus, fireworks became a tradition for New Year. Read on to know more about how firecrackers have evolved over the centuries.

Click on ‘turn’ to read more about each card. Click on the arrow to move to the next card.

Knead to know

Breadventure begins! Explore the world of baking and learn how to make your own bread.

Hey, aspiring bakers! Making bread is like creating magic in your kitchen. Mix flour, water, yeast, and a pinch of fun together. Knead it, like you’re giving it a squishy hug, then watch it rise like a fluffy cloud! Pop it in the oven, and soon, your home will smell like a cozy bakery. When it’s done, slice it, add your favorite toppings, and share the happiness you baked!

Scroll through these slides for instructions.

Freepik

Place them right

In the mood for a quick tour? Try this Geography-based crossword and see how many of these places you know.

Time for an activity based on your knowledge of Geography. The clues for this crossword are based on places across the world. Can you find the answers to them all?

Quiz Whizz: November 22, 2023

Time for a rapid-fire round of questions to check your GK. How many can you answer correctly?

A little mid-week quiz to stir you up. How many of these questions you can answer correctly?

Where stones tell stories

The three Hoysala-era temples of Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura in Karnataka were recently designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites; the 42nd in India.

Built in the 12th century, the Channakeshava temple in Belur (Hassan district), the Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu (Hassan district), and the Keshava temple in Somanathapura (Mysuru district) are distinct examples of Hoysala architecture, which blends the Dravidian style with the Bhumija style of central India and the Nagara style of north and western India. Read on to know more about these temples and solve the shuffle puzzle to see what artisans of yore were capable of.

BELUR, HASSAN DISTRICT


The Channakeshava temple in Belur — dedicated to Lord Vishnu — is shaped like a star and was commissioned by Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana.


Completed in 1117 CE, this is the main structure in a complex that contains many other temples and smaller shrines. This is the oldest of the three temples and the carvings on the pillars are said to have inspired temple jewellery in South India.

BELUR, HASSAN DISTRICT


The Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu is dedicated to Lord Shiva but contains images from the Vaishnava and Jain traditions. The temple is actually a twin structure that contains two lingas representing the masculine and feminine aspects of the God.

The temple is known for its intricate sculptures, reliefs and friezes. The complex also contains Jain temples and a step well.

SOMANATHAPURA, MYSURU DISTRICT


The temple at Somanathapura, also known as Channakesava, is said to be an example of the climax of Hoysala architecture. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, this temple featured three forms of the god as Keshava, Janardhana and Venugopala.


While the first idol is missing, the other two are damaged. The walls, pillars and ceiling are covered with intricate carvings and friezes depicting stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana.

In the 14th century, the Hoysala kingdom was invaded repeatedly by the armies of Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq. Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura were plundered and destroyed. This led to the temples being damaged and falling into ruins.

DID YOU KNOW?

The origin of the word “Hoysala’ is derived from folklore. A young man Sala is said to have saved his guru by killing a lion (or a tiger, according to one version) in a forest. The word ‘strike’ in Kannada is ‘hoy’ and hence Sala became Hoysala. The emblem of the dynasty also shows Sala fighting a tiger.

The basic material of the temples and sculptures was soapstone, which is a soft stone.

Interestingly, the artisans and craftsmen who built the Hoysala temples are not anonymous. They signed their work and so historians have been able to trace not just architects and sculptors but also goldsmiths, silversmiths, ivory workers, carpenters and others who worked on these monumental structures.

Champions are crowned

Australia have lifted the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023! Try this interactive task based on the tournament.

And it’s a wrap on the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Australia defeated India in the finals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to emerge victorious and lift the trophy for a record sixth time. India had a brilliant run throughout the tournament, but it was Australia that was the better team on the day.

10 countries participated in the tournament, and they all played each other once in the league stage. At the end of 45 matches, the top four teams in the points table made it to the semi-finals and then the finals.

Do you know the order in which the countries stood in the final points table? This interactive task is for you. We’ll give you a hint: India finished at the top, so start there.