Facts and activities for children
Some of our sponsors and supporters are children in schools and churches. Here are a few interesting facts about India and Tamil Nadu, with some fun activities.
Kathryn's Nursery and Primary School, Devakottai, Tamil Nadu, India
Independence Day
India became a free and independent nation on 15 August 1947. Independence Day is marked by ceremonies where people raise the national flag and sing the national anthem. The children at Kathryn's Nursery and Primary School are celebrating Independence Day in the picture above. They are dressed as people who have been important in India's history, such as Mahatma Gandhi, who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi, India's first female prime minister, and Bharathiyar, a Tamil writer and poet. You can also see Bharat Mata, a national personification of India (Bharat) as a mother goddess. Bharat Mata is commonly depicted dressed in a red or saffron-coloured sari and holding a national flag. Can you spot her ?
Activities
* Make the national flag of India and some other countries.
* Find out about Independence Days in other countries. How do people celebrate them.
* Which people do you remember on special celebration days in your home country. Share your thoughts with your friends.
Tamil Nadu
Some interesting facts about Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is a state in South India.
The people of Tamil Nadu take pride in their Dravidian culture, which has a unique style of architecture, art, and dance.
Tamil Nadu is home to the oldest surviving classical language, Tamil.
Its capital city is Chennai which has some beautiful historic buildings.
Tamil Nadu has over 38,000 temples and is a popular place for pilgrimages.
Tamil Nadu has the second longest coastlines in India and some beautiful beaches.
It has the the second-largest mangrove forest in the world.
Activities
* learn some Tamil words - Bharat (India), nandri (thankyou), thanni (water), annan (elder brother), akka (elder sister)
* Find out which places people go to on Pilgrimages in India and other countries.
* Why do people go on Pilgrimages ? Share your thoughts with your friends.
* Find out why mangrove forests are important for the environment ?
* What can people do to help protect the mangrove forests ?
Pongal (harvest) celebrations
The staff and children are enjoying Pongal celebrations in the grounds of Kathryn's Mercy Nursery and Primary School.
Pongal is a multi-day thanksgiving harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil people. It is observed in the month of Thai according to the Tamil solar calendar and usually falls on 14 or 15 January. It is a celebration to thank the Sun, Mother Nature and animals that help to contribute to a bountiful harvest.
Day 1 -Bhogi Pongal. A day of cleaning and discarding old belongings to signify a fresh start.
Day 2 -Surya Pongal. On this day the Sun God is honoured. Colourful decorative floor patterns called 'Kolam' are drawn
Day 3 -Maatu Pongal. Devoted to cattle, cows are bathed and adorned with multicoloured beads and flower garlands.
Day 4 - Kaanum Pongal. On this day importance is given to community and families.
Pongal is also the name of the traditional dish eaten during this festival. It is a sweet dish made with rice, lentils, jaggery, and ghee. Pongal is derived from the Tamil word pongu, which means 'to boil over'.
Activities
* Make your own Kolam patterns with coloured chalk,
* Make some multicoloured beads or flower garlands,
* Make some reflection cards. Think about how your life would be different without sunshine. What are the things we can do to strengthen community and family bonds ? Share your thoughts with your friends.
Fruit grown in Tamil Nadu
The Joan's Grace Home Hostel for girls has gardens in the grounds. The girls help with the gardening and grow fruits. Some of the fruits that grow well in this part of India are mango, citrus and jackfruit.
Activities
* Look at the pictures below. Can you work out which ones are mango, citrus and jackfruit ?
* What do you think they taste like ?
* Draw some of your favourite fruit.
* Do you know which countries your favourite fruits come from ?
Contact us
If you require further information or have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
Trustee and Secretary of KMH(UK): Rev William Allberry
E-mail: kmhuk88@gmail.com
Address: KMH(UK), 48 Ditton Road, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 6RB
Telephone: 07818 641576
Internal Financial Control and Due Diligence Policy
Kathryn's Mercy Home Trust (UK) or KMH (UK) is a registered charity (1129791)
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.