Kids Guide to India

KIDS’ GUIDE TO

1 Taj Mahal

Welcome to India India is a big, bustling country filled with lots of people doing lots of amazing things. It has a rich cultural history and is a modern powerhouse of scientific and technological innovation.

Let’s learn about India from kids like you.

Saanvi is 12 years old. She lives in Chennai, in the south of India.

It is an important port city on the Bay of Bengal.

Saanvi is graceful, too.

She studies traditional Indian dance.

Saanvi is named after the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, who is said to be kind and graceful.

When she dances, she wears traditional Indian clothing and jewelry. She wears a garland of flowers.

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Saanvi has a brother.

His name is Veer, which means “brave” in Hindi.

Veer and Saanvi go to the same school.

Every student wears a uniform. The boys’ uniform includes a tie!

Veer’s favorite subject is sport.

He loves to go outside and run and play with his friends.

Veer loves his country and hopes you will, too!

Let’s learn some more about India.

भारत

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Where in the World?

India is a country in South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. India is the world’s seventh largest country. It is a large peninsula with more than 7,400 kilometers (4,600 miles) of coastline on the Indian Ocean.

The western border is largely defined by the Karakoram mountain range. Central and Southern India is covered by the Deccan Plateau, which is flanked by two coastal mountain ranges. India’s landscape also includes thousands of lakes and rivers.

Priya lives in New Delhi, India’s capital. It is in a flat area known as the Indo-Gangetic Plain. New Delhi is one of the most densely populated cities in the world!

INDIA

Rakesh lives in Udaipur. It is known as the City of Lakes because seven lakes surround it.

Udaipur is a popular tourist destination.

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INDIA

POLITICAL WITH A D M I N I S T R AT I V E S C o u n t ry c a p i t a l A d m i n i s t ra t i v e c a p i t a l Major city 0 0

300 km 300 mi

Can You Find It? New Delhi

Mumbai

Chennai

Bangalore

Bay of Bengal

Jaipur

Ganges River

Kolkata 5

India primarily has a tropical climate.

The majority of peninsular India is warm throughout the year. The country sees two annual monsoons that bring huge amounts of water to the region in a very short amount of time. The Himalaya mountains in the north have much colder climates at higher altitudes.

Vivek is from Kochi, on the southwestern coast of India. The weather is very hot year-round, but winters are wet, and summers are dry.

India is considered a “megadiverse” country. It has tropical, coniferous, and deciduous forests.

There are grasslands, shrublands, savannas, wetlands, and marshes.

The country is home to dozens of species found nowhere else in the world! Some large animals common in India are tigers, lions, snow leopards, elephants, rhinoceroses, crocodiles, and water buffalos. The country’s rivers are home to river dolphins, as well as dozens of species of freshwater fish and amphibians. The surrounding Indian Ocean is home to coral reefs, reef fish, rays, and whales.

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Ganges River The Ganges is one of India’s most important rivers. Stretching 2,525 kilometers (1,569 miles), it is also one of India’s longest. The river begins in the Himalayas and flows southeast to the Bay of Bengal.

The river is sacred to Hindus.

Kanchenjunga Ganges River

Bay of Bengal

Bay of Bengal The Bay of Bengal forms mainland India’s eastern coastline. It covers 2,600,000 square kilometres (1,000,000 sq mi), making it the largest water region called a bay in the world. India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands make up the eastern border of the bay.

Kanchenjunga The country’s highest mountain is Kanchenjunga, part of the Himalaya Mountain chain that defines India’s northern border. Towering at over 8,500 meters (28,000 feet), it is the third tallest mountain in the world.

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History 4,000,000–100,000 BCE A skull fragment found in Hathnora in the Narmada Valley in central India indicate that this part of Indian subcontinent might have been inhabited in the Middle Pleistocene era around 250,000 years ago.

700 BCE The Upanishads, a sacred text of Hinduism, are written.

100 CE Sugar is first produced from sugarcane plants in northern India sometime after the first century.

1612

The British rule India, first through the East India Company and later as an imperial power through the British Raj. 8

1857 India’s first three universities, the University of Mumbai, the University of Madras and the University of Calcutta, are established.

1885 The Indian National Congress is established. This nationalist party, which is later led by Mohandas Gandhi, is at the forefront of the Indian independence movement.

1947 The Indian Indepenence Act results in the Partition of India, in which the British-ruled territory is divided into two independent, self-governing countries.

2007 Pratibha Patil becomes first woman to be elected president of India.

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People India is the second most populated country in the world. The vast majority of the population is made up of ethnic Indians.

Pari livse in the northeastern state of Assam. Bengali is commonly spoken there. At school, her lessons are taught in English. She speaks Bengali at home.

India’s constitution recognizes 22 languages, including Bengali, Kashmiri, Tamil, and Urdu. However, the official languages are Hindi and English.

In fact, India has the world’s second-largest population of English speakers, after the United States!

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Hinduism is the most popular religion in India.

In addition, there is a substantial Muslim population. Less common religions include Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Christianity.

In general, Indians are spiritual people. They have a strong sense of community and support one another. Food is central to celebrations, which are central to the culture. Indians are known to be great hosts, as they are exceptionally generous and excited to share their rich culture.

Advik’s family practices Hinduism. They believe that dharma, or an ethical way of life, is a person’s highest goal.

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Names Navya

Navya is a Sanskrit name meaning “new” or “fresh.”

Arjun Arjun is a Sanskrit name meaning “white,” “bright,” “shining.”

Dhruv

Arya

Arya is a Sanskrit name meaning “noble.”

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Dhruv is a Sanskrit name meaning “pole star.”

e (Male) Nam

Aarav

Origin

M e aning

Sanskrit peaceful

Advik Hindi unique Arjun

Sanskrit

white, bright, shining

Dhruv

Sanskrit

pole star

Ishaan

Hindi

Lord Shiva

Krishna Sanskrit dark Mohammed Arabic praised Shaurya Sanskrit brave Veer Vivaan

e (Female) Nam

Hindi brave Sanskrit full of life

Origin

M e aning

Ananya

Sanskrit incomparable

Anika

Sanskrit grace

Arya Sanskrit noble Diya Hindi lamplight Kavya

Sanskrit poem

Myra

Latin

Navya Pari

Sanskrit new, fresh Hindi ethereal

Saanvi

Sanskrit

Sara

Hebrew princess

fragrance of myrrh

Goddess Lakshmi

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Learn Hindi The official language of India is Hindi, spoken by 41 percent of the population. English, spoken by 10 percent of the population, functions as a secondary official language on the national level.

Namaskar

NAHM-us-kar (Hello)

Shubh Prabhaat

SHOOB pra-PAAD (Good morning)

Mera nam ___ hain

MAIR-a naam _____ hay (My name is ___)

Aap kaise hain?

aap KAA-see han (How are you?)

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Mujhe bhookh lagee hai

MOO-jeh BHOOK lagee hay (I’m hungry) Main pyaasa hoon

main pee-AAS-a hoon (I’m thirsty) Dhanyavad

DAH-nya-VAAD (Thank you)

Krpaya

KRA-pee-YA (Please)

Haan

haa (Yes)

Nahin

na-HEE (No)

Phir milenge

AHL-vih-DAH (Goodbye) 15

Holidays and Festivals India has a rich and dynamic culture, and Indians celebrate many holidays and festivals throughout the year. Here are just a few:

Krishna Janmashtami Featuring a day of fasting followed by a day of feasting, this holiday honors the birth of Lord Krishna, one of the most popular Hindu gods.

Ganesh Chaturthi This late summer festival celebrates the birthday of Ganesh, Hinduism’s elephant headed god.

Thai Pongal Thai Pongal is a four-day Hindu harvest festival that marks the sun’s crossing from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn.

Sweet rice, or pongal, is traditionally cooked at home and at Hindu temples.

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Diwali Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is one of the most popular and eagerly awaited festivals in India.

Raksha Bandhan This festival celebrates love among siblings and derives from a medieval practice in which women tied bracelets around the wrists of their brothers to protect them from harm.

Dussehra This holiday celebrates the goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura and, in general, the triumph of good over evil.

Holi Holi is a popular and ancient springtime festival commonly celebrated by people smearing one another with colored powders.

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Food Indian cuisine varies widely by both region and religion, although the spicy stews known as curries remain a cornerstone of its cuisine. Chicken is a widely popular protein; India’s best-known dishes include both tandoori chicken and chicken tikka masala.

Lentil-based dishes (generally called dal) are popular among India’s many vegetarians and are commonly eaten with rice or bread.

Bhel Puri This chat (street-side snack) originates in Gujurat but is now synonymous with Mumbai. Diced tomatoes, onions, and chutneys are combined with crunchy sev (fried chickpea-flour snacks) and puffed rice to create a sweet and sour crunchy mixture.

Dosa This savory South Indian crepe is made from a fermented rice and lentil dough and fried in ghee (clarified butter) or coconut oil. Dosas can be filled with vegetable curries or simply eaten with chutneys.

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Pakora

Pakora a common Indian snack of vegetables (onions, potatoes, eggplant, cauliflower, spinach, chilies) dipped in chickpea batter and deep-fried.

Samosas Samosas are savory fried turnovers with various fillings (potatoes, peas, lentils) traditionally served with tamarind or coriander chutney, but nowadays more commonly served with ketchup.

Chicken Biryani This dish is made with chicken marinated in spices and yogurt that is cooked with basmati rice.

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Gulab Jamun These brown dumplings are made of flour and dried milk soaked in a spiced sugar syrup.

Chai India is the world’s largest producer, exporter, and consumer of tea, with a typical Indian having chai four times a day. Masala chai, where the tea is combined with milk, sugar, cardamom, and black pepper, is more common in Northern India.

Kheer This rice pudding is made by boiling rice, milk, and sugar

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Bhel Puri (Puffed Rice Snack)

Bhel puri, which originates from Mumbai, is arguably India’s favorite snack.

Ingredients Prep Time

35 min

3 cups (75 g) puffed rice ½ cup (75 g) sev ½ cup (73 g) peanuts (or pine nuts, cashews, or a combination) ½ cup (75 g) golden raisins 1 cup (325 g) diced boiled potatoes (pre-cooked, refrigerated) ½ cup (100 g) diced tomatoes 1 Tbsp (15 ml) fresh lime or lemon juice ¼ cup (60 ml) tamarind chutney 1 tsp (5 ml) sea salt Pinch of turmeric

Directions Combine all ingredients together in a large bowl.

Mix well with your hands or a wooden spoon.

Serve immediately.

Notes If you will be bringing bel puri to a picnic or to work, separate dry from wet ingredients until ready to mix and serve.

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National Symbols National Bird Indian Peafowl (common name) Pavo cristate (scientific name)

National Day Independence Day August 15

National Flower Lotus (common name) Nelumbo nucifera (scientific name)

National Animal Tiger (common name) Panthera tigris (scientific name)

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National Flag First Used - July 22, 1947 Nickname(s) - Tiranga

National Currency India’s official currency is the rupee and the paisa.

1 rupee = 100 paisa

National Anthem “Jana Gana Mana”

Lyrics by: Rabindranath Tagore

Transliteration

English Translation

Jana-Gana-Mana-Adhinayaka, Jaya He

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people, Dispenser of India’s destiny.

Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujarat and Maratha, Of the Dravida and Orissa and Bengal; It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas, Mingles in the music of Yamuna and Ganga and is chanted by The waves of the Indian Sea. They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise.

The saving of all people waits in thy hand, Thou dispenser of India’s destiny, Victory, victory, victory to thee.

Bharata-Bhagya-Vidhata Punjab-Sindhu-Gujarata-MarathaDravida-Utkala-Banga Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga Ucchhala-Jaladhi Taranga Tava Subha Name Jage Tava Subha Ashisha Mage Gahe Tava Jaya Gatha.

Jana-Gana-Mangala Dayaka, Jaya He Bharata-Bhagya-Vidhata, Jaya He, Jaya He, Jaya He, Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya He

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Things to See and Do Golden Temple Most Sikhs visit this temple at least once during their lifetime. The shrine’s central peak is mounted with a low gumbaz (dome) containing the golden Kalash (holy jar) with a lotus petal motif in relief at its base.

Taj Mahal Renowned as an enduring monument of love, the Taj Mahal was constructed during 1632-1653 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favorite queen, Mumtaz Mahal. It is made of pure white marble.

Essel World Essel World is an internationalstyle theme park that features about 40 exciting rides and amusements, coin-operated games, arcades, an ice-skating rink called Arctic Circle, and Asia’s largest water park (called Water Kingdom).

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Beaches of Goa The multiple beaches of Goa, with a backdrop of the Western Ghats and rocky crags, are famous for their stunning natural beauty.

The golden Canacona Beach, in Canacona district, is the gateway to many of Goa’s southern tip beaches (like Palolem, Agonda, and Rajbhag).

Gateway of India Constructed in 1924 to mark the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, the enormous Gateway of India features steps leading down to the waterfront.

From there, tourists can take boat trips through Mumbai’s harbor and visit the beautiful Elephanta Caves.

Nilgiri The Nilgiri (Blue Mountains), extending across the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in South India, are a significant part of the larger Western Ghats Mountain system.

The mountains are a major tourist destination and offer hiking and climbing activities.

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Alipore Zoological Gardens The country’s largest zoological park, the Alipore Zoological Gardens stretches across an area of 16 hectares (39.5 acres). It was opened in 1876 by the Prince of Wales and is also known as the Alipore Zoo or Kolkata Zoo.

Gir National Park Founded in 1965 and extending over 1,412 square kilometers (545 square miles), the Gir National Park is one of Asia’s most important protected areas and conserves several threatened wildlife species (including Asiatic lions).

Jim Corbett National Park The Jim Corbett National Park, established in 1936, is Asia’s oldest national park and India’s first tiger reserve.

Statue of Unity This colossal statue depicts Indian statesman and independence leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950).

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Srinagar JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMANCHAL PRADESH

Lahore

Simla

PUNJAB

Ludhiana

Chandigarh RY A

NA

UTTARANCHAL

HA

SIKKIM

New Delhi

ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Jaipur

Lucknow

Kanpur

RAJASTHAN

Itanagar

Gangtok

UTTAR PRADESH

Patna

Dispur Shillong

BIHAR

Gåndhinagar

Ahmadabad

Indore

GUJARAT

MADHYA PRADESH

H AR

Kohima

Imphal

Ranchi

Bhopal

ASSAM

Aizawl

WEST BENGAL Kolkata JHARKHAND

NAGALAND

G

IS TT

ORRISA

HA

Surat

CH

Nagpur

Silvassa

Bhubaneswar TRIPURA

MAHARASHTRA

Mumbai

Pune

MEGHALAYA

Hyderabad

MANIPUR

Vishakhapatnam MIZORAM

ANDRA PRADESH

Panaji GOA

KARNATAKA

Bangalore

Chennai

TAMIL NADU

Madurai

KERALA

PONDICHERRY

Trivandrum

Location Guide Golden Temple

Nilgiri

Taj Mahal

Alipore Zoological Gardens

Essel World Beaches of Goa

Gir National Park

Gateway of India

Statue of Unity

Jim Corbett National Park

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Fun Facts Big Guy Measuring 600 feet (182 meters) tall, India’s Statue of Unity is the tallest statue in the world. That is almost twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty in the United States. The statue is a tribute to the independence leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is located in the western state of Gujarat, where Patel was born.

Spice It Up! Around 70 percent of the world’s spices come from India! India is by far the largest producer of spices, which are shipped across continents to restaurants and kitchens worldwide. Some of the best-known spices are turmeric, cumin, saffron, and chili powders.

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Holy Cow! Cows are sacred to Hinduism, In fact, they are protected by their own set of rules in India’s Constitution, which makes killing a cow a crime.

Temple of Rats The Indian state of Rajasthan has a Temple of Rats! Thousands of rats call the temple home, making it one of the country’s most unique attractions.

Many pilgrims visit the temple every year on their own religious journeys, so make sure to be respectful of local customs when visiting.

22 Languages India is home to 22 recognized languages, including Santali, Kashmiri, Bengali, Urdu, and Tamil. However, the official languages are Hindi and English. In fact, India has the world’s second-largest population of English speakers, after the United States! India is also home to Sanskrit, which is considered the oldest language in the world.

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KIDS’ GUIDE TO

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