|
A Rainbow Connection...
Rainbows are a divine phenomenon. The word for "rainbow" in Hindi (and many other Indian languages) is indradhanush, or Lord Indra's Bow (dhanush means "bow") - a linguistic affirmation of a rainbow's ethereal link between the heavens and the Earth.
As Hindus celebrate Holi this month - and as Easter is emphasized in schools - we urge you to look around your world and explore the colours of nature with your kids. Vegetables, leaves and flowers can be distilled to beautiful paints and powders - a curious (and educational) substitute for the chemical creations you buy off the shelf!
The rainbow of colours we see everyday - the fuchsias of flowers, the blues of birds and the greens of fresh buds - are each a radiant gift from above. So celebrate the colours of spring - the natural way!
Have a safe Holi!
|
|
Holi Egg Puppets! |
|
|
--------------------------------- |
|
 Celebrate Holi this year with colours safe enough to eat! We made an amazing rainbow of colours in the kitchen using just 4 items from the grocery store: red cabbage (for blue), turmeric (for yellow), onion skins (for red) and beets (for pink). Find out how we did it...
When you're all done "playing Holi," just add some vinegar to the liquid colours to make egg dyes. We turned our eggs into puppets, using simple craft supplies. You can use the Egg Puppets to illustrate the Legend of Holi (if your kids are old enough to handle the violent nature of the story), or just a favourite storybook. Read more...
|
|
Madhubani Paintings |
|
|
--------------------------------- |
|
Madhubani painting is a traditional folk art from the Mithila region of Bihar. It's distinctive and curious style - bulging eyes, jolting noses, and abstract designs - appeals to the kids and adults alike. Remarkably, the bold colours are derived from natural flowers, plants and leaves. Read more about Madhubani Painting...
|
|
Where's Hanuman? |
|
|
--------------------------------- |
|
Ram Navami (Rama's birthday) and Hanuman Jayanti (Hanuman's birthday) are celebrated this month, and we found a true gem to introduce the Ramayana to toddlers and beyond. Torchlight Publishing's Where's Hanuman is a picture adventure book with select puzzle scenes - from "Sita's Wedding" to "Attacking Lanka" - which has kids scrutinizing the art for Sir Hanuman. A seek-and-find feast for the eyes! Read more...
|
