Yogurt in a cup

You will need
1 1/2 Cups flour
1/2 Cup of butter, melted
6 Tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
6 teaspoons cold water
Large container of Yogurt, any flavor

Method:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In bowl add flour and powdered sugar.
Mix together.
Add butter and stir until mixture is crumbly.
Slowly stir in cold water and mix thoroughly.
Grease muffin tins and spread dough in each of the muffin cups.
Press dough up along sides of each cup.
Bake until golden brown about 10 minutes.
Allow to cool, fill with yogurt and serve.
Makes about 6.

Source: http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/

Ganesh Chaturthi

This Saturday, starts the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. On the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad, the great festival of Ganesh or Ganpati is celebrated as Ganesha Chaturthi. This festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesh. Lord Ganesha or Ganpati is one of the most popular deities in Hindu religion.

On the occasion of the Ganapati festival, a large number of idols are made of clay or metal in all possible sizes sometimes even up to twenty feet.

People buy them and install them in their houses and worship the idol for one to ten days, after which the idol are taken out ceremoniously, carried in a procession through the streets of the town and immersed into the river, sea or well. The sea front at Mumbai, packed with people, is a spectacular sight.

A cultural feast is held to coincide with Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra especially at Pune and Mumbai. Classical dance, music performances, poetry recitations, folk dances, theatre and film festival are the main features of this festival.

Source: http://www.festivalsofindia.in/

Dristi

Dristi is a pretty girl
a six-year-young beauty

She draws and paints
the pots and fishes
and many beautiful scenes

she proudly shows her
different art works
as I look at her lovingly.
I am glad to see her
smile coyly,
as she sits to paint once more
she made one more picture
more beautiful
and this one is just for me.

Young Scientist at Work!

This is the report sent by 11-year-old, Rusheel Chulani, who lives at Hiranandani apartments in Powai., Mumbai.

This is what he writes:
A popular scientific competition was organized by ‘Aakar Private Limited’. Ten thousand students from three hundred different schools of Mumbai, Pune and Panchgandi took part in these competitions. The competition were organized in three levels

Level one took place in their school premises on 16th April 2007, and it was called ‘brain-gym’. Thirty objective questions, with four varied choices were offered. The contestant was expected to choose the right answer by shading the correct choice. Two thousand students were short-listed from this group and were promoted to level two.

Level two, called ‘Techno Maze’, and was organized at IIT, Powai Campus, on 2nd June 2007. At this level, there were puzzles for each team. Each team consisted of three groups viz. A, B, and C. Each group was further divided into sub-groups, which were made according to their standard of understanding. Each sub-group had to solve the puzzles in the limited time to secure the maximum points. Two hundred students were short-listed from this group and promoted to the third level.

Level three, called ‘Junk create’, and was organized at IIT Powai, on 3rd June 2007. This was the final round in which the students had to make a battery-operated machine that was automatic and mobile.

There were four winners in this event and each of them won a scholarship prize of Rs115000. Kamlesh won the first prize for making a battery operated robot. He shared the prize with his companion-contestant.

Moma! Please!

I slurp up the milk, didn’t you hear me burp?
Another diaper, oh no, was there sales again?

Why do you always smile at your reflected self?
Is that the new dress, one more addition?

Must you decorate my pram with funny, showy bells?
I am very embarrassed by your kitty party friends

Is that your new hairstyle?
Are you going partying again tonight?

Please! Your nail polish smells so yuck!
I don’t feel too bright

Just leave the door ajar,
And finish off your chores
Whew! Can somebody put OFF the AC
Need some fresh air outside

In India 5th September is celebrated as Teachers' day.

5th September is the birthday of a great teacher Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan.

When Dr. Radhakrishnan became the president of India in 1962, some of his students and friends approached him and requested him to allow them to celebrate 5th September, his "birthday". In reply, Dr, Radhakrishnan said, "instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as Teachers' day". The request showed Dr.Radhakrishnan's love for the teaching profession.

From then onwards, the day has been observed as Teachers' Day in India.

Image source: www.irib.ir/Occasions/Moalem/teacher%20day.en.jpg

On September 3 and 4th, Mumbai will be celebrating a festival of Dahi Handi.

Dahi Handi festival is a popular ceremony, celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and glee. Dahi Handi is an enactment of Lord Krishna's efforts to steal butter from Matka (earthen pot) suspended from the ceiling.

Dahi Handi is celebrated with fervor, especially in the twin cities of Mathura - Vrindavan, Dwarka and Mumbai. Young men in Mumbai yell 'Ala re ala, Govinda ala' during the ceremony.

Bal Gopal was very mischievous and found great pleasure in playing pranks on Gopis. He would steal their milk, butter, break their earthen pots to get butter. One day Lord Krishna, broke all the earthen pots of a Gopi in order to get butter. On being caught red handed, the Gopi went to mother Yashoda to inform her of her son's mischievous deeds. She was shocked to see the Lord standing next to his mother; Feeling embarrassed she left the place. But there was little butter smeared on Krishna’s mouth. And his mother wanted to punish him for stealing the butter and lying. But she could not prove that he was guilty.


Dahi Handi generally takes place on the second day of Janmashtami. An earthen pot containing a mixture of milk, dry fruits, ghee is hung around 20-30 feet high in the air with the help of a rope. Silver coins are hung along with the rope, which are later distributed as prize to the winners. Enthusiastic young men, form a human pyramid by standing one on top of the other, trying to break the pot. Onlookers throw water on the young men in order to prevent them from breaking the pot. Breaking of the pot is followed by prize distribution. Devotees believe that the broken pieces of earthen pot will keep away mice and negative powers from their homes.

Source: Hindustan Times.