For Librarians
India: A Program Plan
Busy librarian friends of mine are so inventive — always making and seeking new programs. So I put together a few ideas below to help librarians, teachers, parents, students present a story program on India; I hope to add more themes later.
Invitations
To invite children in, print out several copies of this border, fill in details of program time and place, then post as needed.
Decorations
Print out a bigger outline of this traditional oil lamp from South India. During many traditional theater and storytelling events, this lamp burns all night. Color a soft glow in the bowl and make the lamp brasslike.
Traditional floor drawings are called by many names across India: kolam, alapana, rangoli, and more. They were first made with rice powder, which was eaten by the ants after the beauty was enjoyed. Today, they are also crafted from chalk and powdered colors to greet guests. Try a simple design to welcome your listeners.
Stories
Read The Greedy Crows with its lush illustrations and cultural details. Tell one of the Indian tales included in Tricksters, Teaching Tales, and Just for Fun.
Song
Here’s a simple chant in Marathi language, from a good friend and teacher, Shanta Gangoli, for you to use:
Ye-reh ye-reh pavsa; Tula dayto pie-sa
Look up to sky, use both hands, palms up, to call rain. With right hand, pick money from left palm & offer to sky.
Piesa zala khota; Pavoos ala mohta
Look sadly at empty palms, then turn hands over. Wave both hands down quickly, to mime a heavy rain.
(Translation:)Come, come, rain. I’ll give you money
The money was fake, But the rain came in torrents.
reprinted from Treasury of Asian Stories & Activities for Schools & Libraries, courtesy of Upstart Press
Activities
Print out a larger size of this sweet elephant. Make a copy for each child. Children can color the elephants or paste on bits of tissue and gold paper to make grand elephants. You can cut them out to make an elephant mural around the library.
Make kolams, too. Show the children several models, then put down large pieces
of paper on the ground and let them create patterns with markers.
(See models here: www.sysindia.com/kolam/)
If you’d like to share with children in India, consider collecting and sending books to India as part of your program. Listeners can bring books to donate and volunteers can pack and ship them. Contact Cathy for more details.
Resources
Marketplace India - If you’d like an Indian dress or cloth for a special program, visit this development group that supports Indian women artisans.
See Links for other rich Indian web sites.
