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Passport to India
• Saffron: courage & strength• White: truth & peace
• Green: faith & fertility
• Dharma Chakra or “Wheel of Law”: progress & growth
Geography• India is the seventh largest country in the world•Most of India forms a peninsula surrounded by Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea•Population: 1.2 billion
•Three main types of land: In the north are the Himalaya Mountains. In the middle forms the largest plain in the world. The other part is a peninsula.
Major Rivers
Ganges River
Indus River
Himalayas
• Provide a home for some of India’s rarest animals and plants
• Most elusive animal is the snow leopard
● Mountain range that borders India and China
Food• Many people are vegetarians.
Hindus believe that the cow is a sacred animal and never eat beef.
• Much of the food is flavored with spices such as cinnamon, cardamon, and cumin.
• Most meals include rice, vegetables, bread, and yogurt.
• Often served on a ‘thali’ – a tray or plate that can hold several dishes
Customs
The Five Days of DiwaliOn the first day of Diwali, people consider it auspicious to spring clean the home and shop for gold or kitchen utensils.
On the second day, people decorate their homes with clay lamps and create design patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powders or sand.
The third day is the main day of the festival when families gather together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi followed by mouth-watering feasts and firework festivities.
The fourth day is the first day of the new year when friends and relatives visit with gifts and best wishes for the season.
On the last day of Diwali, brothers visit their married sisters who welcome them with love and a lavish meal.
Music and Instruments
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Arts and Crafts
Economy
Money is called rupee
Approximately 65.6 rupees = $1
India’s economy includes agriculture, handicrafts, industries, and a lot of services.
● At about the same time the pilgrims were landing at Plymouth Rock, the Taj Mahal was built. That was almost 400 years ago.
● It took over ten years to build. More than twenty thousand people and one thousand elephants helped build it.
● The Taj Mahal is in Agra near the capital of India.
Taj Mahal
• also called The Lotus Temple
• shaped like a lotus flower. It’s 27 “petals” are covered in marble.
• This temple welcomes people of all religions. It is a house of worship and a place for meditation and peace.
Bahai Temple
Can you think of anything that we have in the U.S. that came from India? Meditation exercises; you can take these classes at the YMCA
YOGA
Hindi phrase meaning loose trousers
PAJAMAS
Game of skill played on a checkerboard with moveable pieces
CHESS
Expensive sweaters made from goat hair in a region of India
CASHMERE
This digit means nothing, but can greatly change the value of a number when added onto the end of a number
ZERO
A brand of clothing; also a game played while riding horses
POLO
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