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PROJECT/ACTIVITY(i) Find out which songs, dances, festivals an... - Contemporary India
PROJECT/ACTIVITY
(i) Find out which songs, dances, festivals and special food preparations are associated with certain seasons in your region. Do they have some commonality with other regions of India?
(ii) Collect photographs of typical rural houses, and clothing of people from different regions of India. Examine whether they reflect any relationship with the climatic condition and relief of the area.
(i) Seasonal Songs, Dances, Festivals, and Food
Monsoon (Sawan):
Festivals: Teej, Raksha Bandhan.
Songs/Dances:Kajri (UP/Bihar), Jhoola songs.
Food: Ghevar, Pakoras, Malpua.
Winter (Harvest Season):
Festivals: Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Pongal, Bihu.
Dances: Bhangra (Punjab), Bihu dance (Assam).
Food: Til-gud (sesame and jaggery), Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki Roti, Gajar ka Halwa.
Spring/Summer:
Festivals: Holi, Baisakhi.
Food: Thandai, Mango-based dishes, Sattu.
Commonality: Yes, there is a strong commonality. Most festivals across India are linked to the agricultural cycle (sowing and harvesting) and the monsoon, showing how the climate binds the entire country together.
(ii) Relationship of Houses and Clothing with Climate and Relief
Hilly/Cold Regions (e.g., Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh):
Houses: Sloping roofs (to let snow slide off) made of wood and stone.
Clothing: Heavy woolens, Pheran, and shawls to protect against extreme cold.
Desert Regions (e.g., Rajasthan):
Houses: Thick walls (to keep heat out) and flat roofs.
Clothing: Light cotton clothes to stay cool, and turbans to protect the head from the sun.
High Rainfall/Coastal Regions (e.g., Kerala, Assam):
Houses: Built on stilts (in Assam to avoid floods) or with very steep sloping roofs (to drain heavy rain).
Clothing: Simple cotton clothes like Mundu or Lungi due to high humidity and heat.
Conclusion: The photographs clearly show that clothing and housing styles are direct adaptations to the local temperature, rainfall patterns, and available natural materials (relief).