Introduction
Welcome to your virtual field trip to India!
Today our class will be taking a short excursion to India. In order to better understand the context of Haroun and the Sea of Stories we will virtually explore the culture and history of India. At the end of class, we will have a Kahoot Quiz, so take notes and pay close attention!
Instructions:
1. Start by clicking on the "Task" tab and watch a short video. Write down your observations and questions.
2. Click on the "Process" tab and explore the different facets of India culture
3. Click on the "Evaluation" tab and follow the Kahoot link to take the quiz.
Task
Explore the streets of India city life with this short video! Write down your observations on a sheet of paper.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtiyB0Oms0M width:75 height:75 align:center]
Process
Religion
Religion plays a huge part in the culture and daily life of Indians. The two biggest religions currently practiced in India are Hinduism (80%) and Islam (13%), although there are also many minor religions that are practiced as well.
Hinduism is primarily focused The Supreme Being which is represented in three main deities, Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva (pictured above). Each deity represents a different facet of life. Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the preserver and protector, and Shiva is the destroyer. While these are the three biggest gods worshipped, there are countless other deitites within Hinduism. Hindus believe that when they die, they will be reincarnated. They believe that they will go through many cycles of reincarnation until their soul becomes one with The Supreme Being.
Islam is vastly different than Hinduism. It is a monotheistic religion, meaning they believe there is one God who they call Allah. They adhere to a religious text called the Qur'an. Muslims consider it to the unaltered and the final revelation of God. This book contains the law for how Allah wants them to live their lives including topics ranging from banking and welfare , to how to dress, family life, and the environment.
History
India has a long and complex history of political dissension and being invaded. A lot of disagreements within the country come from hostility between the Hindus and Muslims. There has historically been a lot of disagreement and violence between these two groups. For a long time, India was a colony of the British Empire. When it gained its independence in 1947, the land was seperated into two different countries: India and Pakistan. This was partially due to the hostility betweeen the Hindus and Muslims. Pakistan became a majority Islamic state while India stayed predominantly Hindu.
Language
The top two languages spoken in India are Hindi (41%) and Bengali (8%). However, there are actually hundreds of different languages and dialects spoken in India today. It depends on which reigion of the country you go to. The English language is also actually becoming more and more prevalent in India.
Daily Life
Food: Rice is the biggest staple in an Indian diet. Other typical food also includes "dal" which is a lentil/vegtable sauce that is usually poured over rice. Most Indians eat chicken for their source of protein as Hindus are not allowed to eat cows because of the belief that they are sacred, and as Muslims are not allowed to eat pig meat. Most Indians do not use utensils like spoons or forks, but scoop the food with their right hand. Using your left hand is considered bad etiquette because the left hand is used for bathroom purposes.
Clothing: Traditional clothing in India is much different than what we wear in America. Women typically wear "sarees" (pictured above, pronounced: sorry), which are long dressed that cover one shoulder and the entire body. Modesty is highly valued due to both cultural and religious reasons. However, some sarees do expose a women's midriff which is considered acceptable. Men typically wear long loose shirts called "sarongs" with loose pants.
Music
The two main traditions of Indian classical music are Carnatic music and Hindustani music. Both have been around for centuries, although Carnatic music is usually what is used in modern day pop music and films. Every December, the city of Chennai in India has its six-week-long Music Season, which has been described as the world's largest cultural event. Classical Indian music is often accompanied with dance and used for religious celebration. Watch the video below to see a sample of classical Indian song and dance.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oviur4wsFnw&list=PLXBaW-hUNqh-06XyD_tIw… align:center]
Evaluation
Follow the link above to take the Kahoot quiz about this virtual field trip! Ask the teacher for the game pin.