The Talkative Tortoise

The Talkative Tortoise is a take from the Panchatantra and has a very important moral story for kids, the old and young alike.

 

The Game of Carrom – An Indoor Game

 

Most people know about the game of Carrom. Playing this game is fun. Many houses have Carrom Board at home. If not at home, even some schools have Carrom Board as indoor activities for children. There are many small clubs in every city or town. Even in villages they have formed clubs. In many club houses, apart from other indoor games, they also have a carrom board. It is not only the game of youngsters, even elders and seniors enjoy playing this game.

In a home, when children play there may be chance of disrupting this game when one loses. No results, some howling, shouting, some tears, all this rest in peace after sometime. Here, though we are speaking of playing this game with members of the family and friends, there are certain things to know about this game. In short we can know some details about his game.

About the Game of Carrom:

Newspaper -- A View and Review

 

Hello everybody,

Today let us talk about the Newspaper.

You will find in your home, the newspaper is always a good match with a hot cup of morning tea. The father may be the first person at home to catch a hold of the morning newspaper. The others wait for their daily dose one after another. Someone interested in the sports page, someone else likes the page on films, entertainment and the glamour world, while the topic on horoscope can interest anybody. But at the end the newspaper loses its value once the sun starts moving up to stretch the day longer. The old one will be stacked up in the pile of The Old Ones making way for the new one.

THE GAME of LUDO

 

The lockdown has made you all stuck-up at home. I can feel your discomfort in not being able to go out of the house, go to school, cannot meet friends, even can’t visit friends’ homes. But what can we do?

This is the pandemic that has spread across the globe. Every country is taking precautions so that this infection does not spread. So, we should also follow the do’s and don’ts to be safe.

Being at home some time can be spent in playing indoor games.

Let’s talk about the game of Ludo. I think most of you have played Ludo. For those who have, can now think about it.

So let me tell you something about the game of Ludo.

Just a simple description: Ludo is a strategy board game for two to four players, in which the players race their four tokens from start to finish according to the rolls of a single dice. Like other cross and circle games, Ludo is derived from the Indian game Pachisi, but is much simpler. 

What is needed to play this game:

Ludo is a strategy board game for two to four players. You need a Ludo board and 16 tokens with 4 tokens each of a different colour and a dice. The Ludo board is easily available at the toy store near your home or you can purchase it online with the help of your parents.

The players race their four tokens from start to finish according to the rolls of a single dice and whoever reaches the finish first with all his or her four tokens is the winner.

How to play:

Players take turns in a clockwise order. A piece simply moves in a clockwise direction around the track given by the number thrown with the dice. If no piece can legally move according to the number thrown, play passes to the next player.

A throw of 6 gives another turn to throw the dice.

A player must throw a 6 with the dice to move a piece from the starting circle onto the first square on the track. And then you move your token easily with the throw of your dice. Once the four tokens of a player is out of his or her starting circle it becomes easy for the player to play. The player decides which tokens to move. The token moves around the track and crosses the others to reach home safely. Each player gets a turn one after another. If a token lands on a token of the opponent colour, that token of the opponent is sent back to the starting circle.

If a piece lands upon a piece of the same colour, this forms a block. This block cannot be passed or landed on by any opposing piece.

The first person to move all 4 pieces into the home triangle wins.

Young children like this game. It is simple and easy to play. And then of course the counting is there with the throw of the dice. Why children, even elders enjoy playing this game.

What is it about Ludo that has made it such a longstanding game across hundreds of years? Perhaps the charm lies in its simplicity and elegant design. Or maybe it’s about the way it brings people together in order to spend some quality time. No matter what, one thing is for sure – Ludo is extremely fun.

 Having said about the Ludo game I want to share some experiences. As children we used to play Ludo. Four players. The game would be at its full swing. Suddenly someone’s token has to go back to the starting point…then the fight would start. The board with all the tokens and dice would be simply just messed up and the whole game and game time lost and spoilt.

As children, such strong emotions run when losing a game. There would be exchange of words and the game would stop. But soon with everything patched up the game would start again with laughing and talking. At times the quarrel among the players would be such, the Ludo board would be torn to number of pieces and if the board was lucky the tear would be from the middle. But home remedy was there. Gum and paper would soon fix the board into whole.

So, friends if you have a Ludo board at home, play the game and see what happens next.

Keep me informed about your Ludo Game adventure so that we can have a share of your thoughts and then think whether to laugh or…

See you again.

© Gouri Guha 2021

Mini's Garden

Mini was in her garden watering her plants. It was her usual habit to water her plants in the morning. For that she gets up early in the morning. 

She got this habit from her mother who loved to plant flowering plants that made her garden looked so colourful when the flowers of different colours bloomed.

She tended her plants very carefully. 

This was one of the hobbles Mini had. 

Her mother was happy with Mini's garden work.

When the flowers bloomed Mini's friends came to see them. Giggling and laughing and chatting they would laugh and play.

Mini was a sweet little girl who loved and enjoyed this hobby. Some of her friends started following this hobby.

Within some time they were able to form a group and shared their gardening ideas with one another.

After all Mini was happy girl who also made others happy.

The Garlic and Ginger Fight

 The Garlic and Ginger sat across the table and were into a fight. Said Ginger, do you know how important I am to humans. 

Garlic, who has a white face could not change its face colour but was a bit unhappy with friend Ginger for the words. Said, don't be so proud, I'm equally important to the world.

Hahahahaha, laughed Ginger to hearts content. The other day that darling of a lady was so happy to add me to her tea. She told her friends how she loved her ginger tea.

Then listen to me said Garlic. The other day Minu's mother took some pieces of raw mango, added seven garlic cloves, salt, and sugar and made this chutney which everyone in the family relished it. Some loved the garlic flavour.

Hey Garlic why do we have to fight .I know people love  Garlic and Ginger. We are no way less than one another.

Did you see Rani enter the kitchen. Soon she will take a little of you and little of me and make it into a paste. we have no way to run away on our own. we are so dependent. So why fight.

Come Ginger lets spend some time with some pep talks. 

...and the rest is...

Words of Thought

Year comes and goes,
We stand with them, 
In the thick and thin,
Life's malady plays the tune, 
We dance with this tune, 
In mirth and sorrow, 
For that is the life, 
We get with every coming morrow.

School Break

The bell rang,
Children ran out of their classes,
Laughing and giggling,
Their small tiffin boxes in their tiny hands.

Amid all the shouts and laughs,
The tiffin boxes opened,
And food from different homes, 
Come out in the open.

Mothers love was packed in the small boxes, 
Filled with taste and smell,
The children ate and shared,
With loved spilled all over.

© gouriguha 2019

Day - How Was Your Day?

Someone asked me, 

How was your day?

Good, I said.

How did you spend it?

Like everyday.

The look from the other side was bitter,

Maybe my days taste did not fit into HERS.

© gouriguha 2018

Life and Days

The count of life
Sails with the days,
But every day
Tick tocks with the minutes hand,
And, seconds hand comes to help,
To tell one and all
There is the Clock who tells,
The story of every moment of Life.

India, Indians and Summer Time

India, Indians and Summer...all have something to say.

India -- The country that is famous for its "Unity in Diversity".

Does India have 3 or 4 seasons.

My mind says 3. Summer, hot and sweaty. Monsoon or the Rainy season, when rain comes down and cools the earth that was heated by the Summer. Winter, everyone likes as it keeps the sweat away. Blossoms of many colours are seen and then picnic and outings feature in the life of the people.

Indians -- Indians love their food, their dressing sense,and of course the different languages. Move out from one state boundary, sure to meet people speaking a different language from another state. Food habits differ and of course some cultural difference. But, Indians like to live in this diversity.

Summer -- Ufh!!! the summer has stepped in. Now its time for cotton clothes. Cotton clothes are so soothing to the body.

Temperatures will start rising but people in India wait for this season for the Mangoes. Eat it raw or ripe, doesn't matter.Pickle it or drink ripe mango juice. Soothes the body and the palate. Food habits change, less spicy and something cold. Ice-creams and soft drinks fill up space in the stomach.

How can you hate Summer in India when the Mangoes come.

Silly but true. Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!

Mangoes -- The Summer Hit

Indians, mostly everyone except very few, can confess openly that they love the summer mostly for the mangoes.

I may be right or wrong in what I think or believe, but the fact remains, my fact is very right.

Again there can be difference of opinion. But the face remains, raw or ripe, makes mango the King of Fruits.

Again a pause.

What is there about the raw mango and the ripe ones.

Aah hhah! No jumping the guns but straighten them.

Get your raw ones and pickle them to enjoy throughout the year. Pickle the mangoes giving them the punch and make it, sour taste, sweet taste and also half-sweet half-sour taste.

O god, why the big fuss, make them to satisfy the individual taste buds.

Enough is enough.

Ripe mangoes. What a space they have on the plate.

Cut them to pieces or even suck the small ripe ones and find the juice going into your mouth. Some juice just running down from your hand to the elbow. But nothing to worry. Once the seed comes out from the tough skin...and suck and suck and suck...the seed till no more pulp or juice remains.

Eat your mangoes the way you like but don't curse the summer for the heat as this season gives us this King of Fruits, The Mango, comes only with summer.

Thought of the Day -- Sun Fun

The sun rose to bring my day
And
I
Have all the time to make my day.

Good great sun you bring
The jingle of life in everyone
And let the living live
The day to wait again for your visit again.

(c) GG.

The Smiling Sun

"Have you seen the smiling sun", the child asked his mother.

"No. But where did you find the smile on sun's face", asked the mother enquiringly.

"I have got it just near me" was the smiling child's reply.

The mother looked in astonishment at the child's face. "You have got the sun near you.

But how?" was the enquiry.

"Don't worry, come close and peep into my drawing book. You will find the smiling sun

here", said the child as he laughed away.

The mother thought for a while and then it came to her mind, how innocent a child's

thought can be. If only we elders could have such purity in our hearts then that would

make a whole lot of difference to us and to this world.

Bangla Chora হাট্টিমাটিমটিম

This Bengali Chora is very popular with Bengali kids and children. No particular time to repeat the rhyme, and no perfect meaning for it.
Can we justify in saying 'is this chora full of meaning or nonsense?'
Not the time to ponder over this but let kids learn it and enjoy the simple chora as they repeat it time and again.

Bangla Chora for those who can read Bengali script:

হাট্টিমা টিম টিম

Haradhoner Doshti Chhele ( Chhotoder Bangla Chhora/Bangla Rhyme for children )

10

Haradhoner Doshti Chhele

Ghore Para Moi

Ekti Kothay Hariye Gelo

Roilo Baki Noi

Dosh Theke Ek Baad Gele Baki Thake Noi  (10 - 1 = 9)


9

Haradhoner Noiti Chhele

Kaat-te Gelo Kaat

The Taste of the Newspaper with a Cup of Tea

I feel so lazy to get up in the morning. But, once up, the day starts working as if everything has been fed like that in a computer.

The taste buds start working with the morning cup of tea.

Crow Talk and Her Interpretation

Rain was playing pitter-patter on the rooftop. Though not falling like they say, “It’s raining cats and dogs”, definitely there was space to say the rain drops were falling brisk and swift.

The earth was bearing the beat and so also the rooftops. But the birds perched on the treetops were getting trouble to find shelter. And speaking of the most advanced crows living in urban areas, they find respite under some shelter of the brick and mortar homes.

Mind Speak

Who speaks?

Thoughtful question.

From where does all the thoughts and words come from?

Of course, from the MIND.

Film Review – Review of film ‘ROY’

This film begins with a unexciting note. There is the film director Kabir Grewal (Arjun Rampal) suffereing from writers block and unable to even start off with the opening line of his story. He has his typewriter before him to start off with some writing. But, then he moves to Malaysia to start shooting for his film. There meets another Indie lady film maker Ayesha Aamir (Jaqueline Fernandez) from London and falls in love with her. The lady is never seen shooting any scenes and this makes one feel what in the hell she is doing in Malaysia, really shooting or just in the role to become the lover of the protagonist in the film.

Just THIS and THAT

So many thoughts cross the mind. I may not be wrong to say that “Thoughts also can go the crisscross way”.

Can there be a lattice of thoughts?

The Sky Speaks A Thousand Words

Some questions or should I say ‘queries’ that call for an answer.

        

Does the sky really speak?

Does it only say a thousand words?

What is the Sky to me?

For me the Sky speaks a lot.

No not a thousand words but a domain that cannot be measured in thoughts and words.

The Sky looks limitless and beyond my vision world.

The Photo Album

Years have gone by and Anjali started reading her bygone days. She could go back to her good old days as she turned over the pages.

Maya, her niece, looked at the hand that turned the pages one by one. The skin on her aunt’s hand had become loose and showed lines that had come up with age.

In Conversation with Winter

Call it my thoughtfulness or thoughtless mind to be talking to a season.

Well, we do talk with self and also to Nature, to Animals, to Birds, and, that’s nothing or something that is worrisome in life.

HAPPY DIWALI

Let the flame burn to bring light to all. 

Happy Diwali
Make your Diwali safe and green...we the people can do it with our efforts.

Teacher’s Day

On this day let us remember Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, whose birthday we people in India celebrate as “Teacher’s Day”.

If the word Teacher’s Day is taken into thought, then we may consider this day for Teachers Only. But without their students Teachers cannot be teachers.

H for Handwriting

Technology and advancement, our present generation is rushing towards it to catch the best? In a small gathering of Moms-at-home, at one Mom’s house there was series of discussions.

No one was interested in discussing about their domestic helps or the problems they faced with them.

HAPPY GANESH CHATURTHI

Wish You All 
Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

Eight – This word has struck my mind’s cord today – Get, Set Go…

The word Eight, how much does it mean to a person.

Eight, a single digit number, written as numerical 8. Everyone knows that. No fuss about it.

FIFA WORLD CUP 2014

Watching the matches of this World Cup season does cost me a lot of sleep. Those who have been watching these matches can well understand what I mean.

Then, I can keep some hours of my sleep aside to watch these interesting matches. And now only the final match that will of course be really interesting.

The Rain Song

“How well did the Rain sing” I thought as I saw the rains come down with its own jingle.

All for Jokes

Today after feeling bored some jokes to cheer up with. Having read them like to share...

Read the jokes:

Onions and Tears – Double Trouble

“O my God” I said so loudly that others close by could hear the words. That was when I was in the vegetable market planning to buy my vegetables and return home so that my cooking could be finished on time to be served to the hungry tummy’s waiting to be filled.

I saw people in the market indulge in conversation and arguments about onions. The prices have gone up but why make such a noise. Instead it will be better if we can do with fewer onions, or, even without onions.

Garden and Care

Flowers from my garden

I’ve been nurturing the few trees that I have in my garden. Looking after one’s own garden is a great activity. This is also a good pastime and a chance to be with nature for some time of the day.

I feel looking after the trees, plants and shrubs in one’s own garden give many benefits to the concerned person. I love to talk with my plants and trees. It seems to me they look up to me to go to them every day. They love my touch and I also feel the same way. Watering them is like quenching their thirst. We all like to hand over a glass of water to anyone coming to our homes. Same way the plants also wait for that water they need for it is their staple food for their growth.

The Sacred Ganga – The Sacred Ganges River

We Indians, the Hindus of this country worship Maa Ganga. For every small or special or religious occasion we need Ganga Jal to sprinkle all around. The sprinkle of this holy water of the Ganges seems like it is purifying the place. That’s the thought that has been in the minds and still is there.

With the General Elections being over and a new government coming at the Center, now it is the time for Maa Ganga to be made clean. The new government under the leadership of Mr. Narendra Modi is taking up this project. So much dirt and pollutants have been allowed to flow into the water of the flowing Ganga. The river has become choked with all the solid and liquid wastes coming into it. Even its waters are polluted.

The Phone Call

The phone suddenly started ringing. I was not expecting a call at this time of the day. After lunch, lying down to enjoy my siesta, I was really annoyed. Let the ring tone go on harping the tune for some time, but soon it became unbearable. Taking the call it was me saying “Hello” in a tone that sounded with annoyance.

From the other side was a gruff tone saying, “hello, hello, hello”

In Conversation with Summer – Part 2

In Conversation with Summer

Today is going to be Tough Talk with Summer.

Me: Why is the heat getting unbearable?

Summer: Put your hand on your chest and let me know if I am solely responsible for it.

Me: You make me think. I cannot blame you totally. We have made the mess…man-made it is to a large extent.

Summer: (smiles) why don’t you all make amends?

A Slice of Mango – Mango Speak

Recently news went around the people of India would have to just wait for a slice of mango as most of the mangoes would be exported. The price would be sky rocketing. Thank god, luck has suddenly changed for the Indians.

Who Helps You???

This question looks simple but the answer can be difficult. Each one can draw own meaning out of this.

When someone put forth these words to me, I was taken aback. Later I realized this was something to talk about mainly for the women folk.

Film Review – 2 States

Starring: Arjun Kapoor, Alia Bhatt,Ronit Roy,Amrita Singh,                                                              Revathy

Directed by Abhishek Varman

Produced by Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala

Written by Chetan Bhagat

Based on 2 States by Chetan Bhagat

Music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

Cinematography Binod Pradhan

The film 2 States is from the book by Chetan Bhagat that has been adapted into a film.

This story starts from IIM Ahmedabad where the two, Krish Malhotra (Arjun Kapoor)  the Punjabi boy from Delhi meets Ananya Swaminathan (Alia Bhatt) the girl coming from Chennai. It takes some time for the two to pair up with one another. At first friendship and the after some days begin their love affair. The two are happy to be in the company of one another and decide to get married once they have got jobs.

In Conversation with Summer

Strange but true, I really did talk with summer. Since a long time I had thought to write about my conversation with Summer and today I felt it really deserves to be here.

Me: Summer, why do you have to come after the long winter cold months?

A Home-Kitchen and Cooking at Home – Everyday Duty or a Reality

Every home needs to have a kitchen and without this life can be miserable. Still there are people, living single, and want food from outside. With facilities coming up it is now easy for anyone to set up a kitchen at home.

What Lures People into Politics

It is really difficult to find out why people are running after political parties to join them. Many reasons crop up in my mind. This is the way my feeling is.

Politics has become a cheap affair.

How Smart Is Your Kid

God save me. I cannot see Ma’s/ mummy’s/mamas/ moms, put a silent question to one another when they speak about their little ones.

“Did you know, my Simi got the first prize in drawing competition in her class”, said Mona.

“My Bittu got the best prize in an open singing competition. It’s so difficult for a mother to cope up with such difficult things we go through for the child”, was Rakhi’s reply.

Though mothers want to hype about their own children they think that their child is smarter than the rest. The way they converse with each other show how they want to ask others, “How smart is your kid”, but cannot as this will begin a fight among them.

Cat fights, some call it.

Time and Line

Life falls in line with Time. This means Time is the important factor in Life.

Speaking of everyday life, it starts with the coming of morning and ends with night. Earlier there was so much truth in, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”.

Why the Gali ka Kutta barks late night

I fear to move around the city at night. The streets late at night will see mostly boozed up men, late night party fellows rushing back home, tired truck drivers getting the liberty on the lonely streets to move about as they like, some bikers who love to perform stunts, some speedy drivers who want to fulfill their hearts desire to accelerate their cars and zoom past the wind and then the most dangerous of all, the anti-socials.

Having not said about dogs, Gali ka Kutta, will not make any effect on the designed topic. Dogs, I mean street dogs not the pet ones who have all the luxury to live their luxurious Doggy Life in the luxury of rich homes. They have everything and even more. But the Gali ka kutta has to move around on its own with its own fold, finding food for survival.

Film review – Paranthe Wali Gali

Directed by Sachin Gupta

Produced by Sachin Gupta, Sushma Gupta

Written by Sachin Gupta

Starring: Anuj Saxena as Maulik, Neha Pawar as Naina Kaur, Vijayant Kohli as Saluja, Mohinder Gujral, Himanshu Thakkar, Yuvraj Haral, Prabhakar Srinet

Music by Vikram Khajuria

Cinematography: Debasish Banerjee

The title of the film does create interest in the minds of the people of Delhi. The plot revolves around a group of theatre artists, the leader of the group is Moulik, role played by Anuj Saxena. This is all about the struggling artists who want to get a strong foothold in the field of theatre.

Politics and Craze – more Haze for Me

I think this time, the 2014 General elections is making a lot of noise all around. Whether you are in politics, like to discuss about politics, have no liking about politics, simply hate politics, you cannot be spared from the entire hullabaloo about it.

Holi and the Colours

Friends, wish you all,

Happy Holi

Read this link here. It made me sad, at first brought tears of sadness and then of joy. A little difference can bring in a smile and cheer to those lives who has not seen colours on them for so many years.

This day of colours brings so much passion in the lives of each and every Indian. The different colours make all the difference when they are splashed one on the other and such vibrant combination is the result.