Indian-Americans are lucky to have back-to-back Independence Day celebrations during the summers – 2 countries, 2 flags, 2 festivals of freedom – and 2 moments to feel national pride.  Hopefully our children will grow to feel the same way.

Last year we staged creative food flags of India and Pakistan – a great way to get kids involved.

And how about that inspirational national anthem – Jana Gana Mana?  Here’s an activity featured in our August Newsletter – it’ll familiarize kids with the anthem and their Indian geography.

If you have our India Map Puzzle, pull it off the shelf.  Otherwise, you’ll need a (preferably) large map of India (you can print one from the web if you don’t have one handy).  Then, make 11 paper labels for each of the following:  Punjab, Sind, Gujarat, Maratha, Dravida, Orissa, Bengal, Vindhya, Himalaya, Jamuna and Ganga.  We taped ours to toothpicks and set them in Mysore Pak (an Indian sweet – extra incentive if they get it right!), so they could function as pawns.  As you sing and explain the meaning of Jana Gana Mana, help your kids correctly place the labels on the map.  This is a terrific and interactive exercise they’re sure to remember.

Here are the lyrics and and a translation of the anthem (translation by Government of India):

Jana Gana Mana
Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People

Tags: India Map Puzzle

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