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Social Sciences: Class 3 — Chapter 3: Celebrating Festivals

3.1 Rishi's Journey to the Himalayas

Rishi travels from Jammu to the Himalayas with his parents to visit his Mama (mother's brother), Mami, and cousins, Chiya and Nonikaa, who live in a small mountain village.

3.1.1 Observations During Travel

  • The journey is made by bus along winding roads with hairpin turns.
  • The hillsides are covered with colorful flowers and a variety of tall trees.
  • Safety Rule: "Always keep your head, hands and arms inside the bus."
3.2 Road Safety and Signboards

Understanding road signs is essential for safety while travelling on roads.

3.2.1 Common Road Signboards

  • Speed Breaker: Indicates a bump on the road to slow down vehicles.
  • No Horn Please: Restricts honking, usually near hospitals or schools.
  • No Parking: Vehicles are not allowed to park in this area.
  • No U-Turn: Making a U-turn is prohibited.
  • Men at Work: Indicates road construction or repair ahead.
  • School Ahead: Warns drivers to slow down for school children.
3.3 Spring Festivals and Flowers

Spring is celebrated across different regions of India as a celebration of nature, marked by blooming flowers and fresh greenery.

3.3.1 Kashmir Tulip Festival

  • Celebrated in Kashmir when tulips bloom.
  • Traditional Kashmiri dish: haakh (a leafy vegetable eaten with hot rice).

3.3.2 Spring Festival of Buransh

  • Celebrated in Rishi's home region.
  • Features lovely red flowers called buransh (Rhododendron).
  • People place mustard and buransh flowers at the doorsteps of homes to receive blessings, sweets, and toffees from elders.

3.3.3 Vishu (Kerala)

  • Celebrated in Kerala to mark the Malayali New Year.
  • People use yellow amaltas flowers, fruits, and vegetables to prepare Vishu Kani, an auspicious arrangement viewed at sunrise to bring prosperity.

3.3.4 Sarhul (Jharkhand)

  • A spring festival celebrated in Jharkhand.
  • People wear traditional clothes and walk in a procession to the sakhua tree.
  • They carry freshly germinated grains and sakhua flowers, making offerings to the Earth and the Sun.
  • Celebrated with singing, dancing, and traditional drums like dhol and nagada.
3.4 Festival Foods and Traditions

Different festivals across India are associated with unique traditional foods:

3.5 Geographical Facts

3.5.1 The Himalayas and Mount Everest

  • The Himalayas mean "home of snow" and lie in the northern areas of India.
  • The highest mountain peak in the world is Mount Everest, located in Nepal.
  • The height of Mount Everest is approximately $8,848\text{ metres}$.