Food and Community

The theme of food covers various topics, ranging from the knowledge of the food we eat to the process of making food, from understanding food items prepared during special occasions to getting exposed to the challenges prevalent in the food-production cycle. The resources given below help to understand about festivals and the food prepared during such festivals and special occasions.

Understanding festivals

1. Watch engaging videos on Pongal: The following videos are songs that explain about the celebrations and the happenings during the Pongal festival
   1. Vellai ellam_Pongal song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzKFx2WQp40;
   2. Uzhavar Vazhaga - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft5jRtW6GMk;
   3. Pongalo Pongal (பொங்கலோ பொங்கல் ) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcsson-nSr8
2. Read stories and articles on various harvest festivals and other festivals that are celebrated in India. Following this, discuss about the celebrations and the special food items prepared during those festivals
   1. Dia’s favourite festivals - https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/2914-dia-s-favourite-festivals
   2. Phool dei—A spring festival - https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/11960-phool-dei-a-spring-festival-of-...
   3. Kale kauva—Makar Sankranthi in Kumaon, - https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/25908-kaale-kauva-fest-makar-sankrant...
   4. Ghee festival of Uttarakhand - https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/43431-ghee-festival-of-uttarakhand
   5. Mongal stole Pongal
      1. - In Tamil - https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/54657-mongal-stole-pongal
      2. - In English - https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/52612-mongal-stole-pongal
   6. Suseela’s kolams
      1. In Tamil - https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/32395-colourful-kolams
      2. English - https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/54-susheela-s-kolams
3. Watch videos on various harvest festivals and other festivals that are celebrated in India. Discuss about the various other local festivals in which the whole community comes together to celebrate (e.g.: The recently-celebrated river festival) and the food involved in those festivals.
   1. பொங்கல் பண்டிகையின் வரலாறு! -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyy4YhNlHB0
   2. Bihu Festival (first 2 mins) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtvvcdGQTBY
   3. Baisakhi Festival - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcDP4utXBKY
   4. People celebrate harvest festivals across India - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKSX8-TKA5c
4. Videos on local temple festivals can be used too if available

Documenting festivals

1. The student can document about the festival that had piqued their interest and detail the foods involved in that festival. The models that can be followed is the book on Diwali and Dia’s favourite festivals.
2. Create a drama of festival processions and perform it for the whole school. The dramas can be based on the readings, the videos watched in the classroom, or familiar festivals.

Exploring the local processions and the food involved

• Visit the nearest religious places, especially during some special occasions.
• Get a direct exposure to Annadhanam/Langar at religious places.
• Interview the people coming to the place and the ones sponsoring the special event:
  • What is the occasion?
  • Why is it famous?
  • Why are you sponsoring prasdham/annadhanam? (to those who sponsor the event)
  • Who had cooked the food and where was it cooked? (to those who sponsor the event)
  • How do you feel about eating together with known and unknown people? (common public)
  • How do you feel about serving food to the public? (to those who are serving)
• Interviewing the temple staff
  • How do you manage to cook such huge quantities of food?
  • How do you decide the menu?
  • Where do you purchase all the materials?
  • How many people are involved in the cooking process?
  • Is there any voluntary involvement of people for cooking and distribution during any occasion?
  • What is the reason behind giving food to people?
  • How often and on what all occasions is food being provided?

Teacher Resources:

• Harvest festival - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qr2lEeOMvM