FESTIVAL OF BIHU in Assam, India
Students very much enjoyed learning about this three day festival in India, which actually began on April 14th with a ritual of "cow washing"! I showed our friends pictures and videos of this animal, very sacred to Indian culture, being washed in the river and coated with Turmeric spice. The cows also receive new rope at this time of year! I also showed the children a picture of a baby rhinoceros living in Assam, and we talked a little bit about local wildlife!
We also put on some Indian music and tried out some of the dance moves we saw (pics below)! One theme that emerged often was hiding both hands behind your back, and also using your hands as though they were graceful bird necks and beaks (opening and closing hands as though they were a bird's mouth, which I described to the children as "Swan Moves".)
We then watched a few videos of traditional Bihu dance, which interpretively speaking is very themed around "courtship" style dances between men and women. Many of the dance moves are focused on moving the torso and upper arms and bending at the waist. Check out the Youtube videos and see for yourself!
PEEK-A-BOO SONG FUN!
(Hear tune in video below)
(Child's name) is gone! Where is (he/she)?
Peek-a-boo! Now I see!
Gone again! Where'd (he/she) go?
Peek-a-boo! I found your nose!
Try this fun peekaboo song with your young child. All you need is a handkercheif, blankie, or even a tissue!
