Ragamalika

LET'S LEARN - HEALTHY FOODS AND BODY BUILDING FOODS.

Lets start this discussion with : WHAT IS A HEALTHY DIET & WHY WE SHOULD EAT HEALTHY FOODS?

A healthy diet contains adequate calories of energy to keep us active and for growth. It has a balance of major and minor nutrients derived from different types of food. It also includes proper quantity of water intake.

By following a healthy diet, we become physically fit. We can measure this using factors like height, weight, age, gender, dimensions of chest and hip(waist) etc.If we are below the prescribed standard rates, we are under weight.This is malnutrition. When we are above the standard range, we are overweight. This causes many life style diseases.An advance of overweight leads to obesity.

Healthy foods are those that give us sufficient nutrients, vitamins, minerals, energy for body functions and growth. This is not attained by one meal. So we have to arrange our daily intake over different meals and snacks so as to achieve this.

Carbohydrates, proteins, fats are components that give us lot of energy. So they are called macro or major nutrients. eg.cereals, millets, pulses, meat, fish, egg, milk etc.

Vitamins, minerals, anti oxidants, fibre etc are required by human body in small quantities and are called minor or micro nutrients.eg. fruits and vegetables.

BODY BUILDING FOODS:

Proteins, minerals and water are the components that are considered useful for body building. These help in development of bones and muscles. Generally, body building diets help in growth and repair of body tissues and internal organs. ( muscles, blood, skin, hormones and enzymes ) So proteins are required for good health. Minerals are inorganic substances essential for metabolism. We get them from tubers, fruits, vegetables and 'greens'. Water is essential for digestion, distribution, of joints, body cooling, waste disposal, etc.Children need to consume foods that provide 1 to 1.5 grams protein per kilogram of their body weight. There are many sources of proteins. Some of them are listed below:

                           

• Egg Whites:   

1. Purest form of protein.
2. Easily absorbed by body
3. Low ratio of protein to fat ( 60:1)
4. Good source of vitamins and minerals too.

•  Fish:

1. Especially small fishes that contain Omega-3- fatty acids
2. The fats in fish are healthy( Vegetarians Cod Liver Capsules!)

• Lean Meat:

1. Chicken lean or breast are high quality proteins. Low in saturated and trans fat.
2. Turkey meat has higher proteins than Lean Chicken meat. ( 73%- 48%) and is lower in fat content too(22% than 48%)                                      

YOUNG SPIRITS WIN

Vidya Kendra ; the school with a difference at S.K.Temple Road in  Kozhikode; celebrated its sports day at the Exclusive club near Civil Station on 21^st January 2012.

It was a very hot and sunny day just as the whole hearted spirits of young kids towards the sporting event.

Real sportsman spirit was expressed everywhere.

The event opened with a prayer. Commander G.P.K Sreekumar was the chief guest. Former Minister (I &PRD) and JaiHind Channel Chairman M.M.Hassan also spoke. Cine actor and comedian Mamukoya; Anwar, President, Exclusive Club; and President, Malabar Chamber of Commerce were special invitees.

Principal Santi Saidev welcomed the gathering and introduced the chief guest.

Commander G.P.K Sreekumar lit the Olympian torch. It was handed over to Ashish P.V who relayed it to Ahmad Moideen and in turn to Gautham Arangil who kept it on the pedestal. All these three children belong to class VII.

Then the chief guest broke the gas balloons. It was a very beautiful sight.

March past was led by Vidhya Vinod Kumar of class VII. All classes joined the march past. Each class had a leader. After the march past an oath was taken.

At VK, they have many EC activities like aerobics, basketball, yoga, karate, mass drill etc. The demonstrations of the same were performed by selected students.

Games section was most interesting. Every class had two games each, for the day. Two or three events were conducted earlier at school itself for every class.

Sac race boys - class VI

Miss Thanuja anchored the whole event with high voltage inspiration. Miss Bijula’s efforts over the last two years came to fruition. Student facilitators did a commendable job in aiding coordination of various games.

Competitions were held both in team and individual basis.  Sack race, frog jumping, lemon and spoon, running race, shot put, get ready to school, picking up stones, relay, book balancing, collecting potatoes, musical ring, skipping, paper tearing were among the kid-friendly games.

The performance of musical ring, sack race, frog jumping, lemon and spoon gave enough scope for fun and laughter to the enthusiastic onlookers. Get ready to school presented anxious moments to Mammas as they watched their kids prepare themselves in public; many for the first time ever!

The final event was exclusively arranged for parents. It was titled “Firing the shapes”. A vibrant participation of parents especially grandparents, with child like enthusiasm presented a memorable experience. Along with children the best performing parents also were awarded.

School Management also actively involved in the event providing guidance and support as necessary and distributing prizes to winners. Other distinguished personalities also joined the prize distribution ceremony. The event concluded with National Anthem.

Sports meet finally turned out to be a day where talented kids proved their mettle in all round development. International Spell Bee Anupam, National ranked Chess champion Pooja, Keyboard artist Fahad, Quiz wizard Ashish, singers Bharat and Fasna, along with most academicians of VK exposed their talent in sports too…

 For Class IV, it was a golden chance to cheer their peers; as most of them repeatedly climbed on to the victory stand. A class with a handful of gifted students; Afnan, Ektha, Fathima, Fiza, Shamil, Vaishnav, Amal all made the class proud with a string of victories. LABS students participated along with their peers and won accolades proving their competence. This made the day quite spectacular.

 

A day with sport, fun, spirit and definitely a study-off experience, children along with their parents enjoyed very well. The spirit of participation is equally or more important than just winning; that was the message spread across the event and thereafter. This successfully shows that the very purpose of conducting the sports day has been served well.

INSTILLING LIFE VALUES IN YOUTH - THE GANDHIAN WAY

Dr.S.Kulandaisamy, Secretary, Gandhi Peace Foundation, Chennai is an Engineer by profession. He has specialised in Gandhian thought and follows a mission to touch young minds and initiate them into Gandhian thought and culture through Peace Education. He believes in resolving conflicts through micro actions for peace.

As I read one of his write ups last year in The Hindu, Young World, I too had a personal feeling that non violence is on the hike among students and inclusion of Peace Education into the course module would definitely help mould our kids in a better manner.

Later I came to know that 51 modules on Gandhian values was published by him, with stories, quiz, quotes, anecdotes and illustrations. Further I understood that these are compiled and published as books and distributed among interested students. The simple material, well presented and suitable for students for various levels in an appropriate manner is definitely a choice to be utilised by the citizens of tomorrow.

Cover page of the book Gandhian Way to Peace

The Gandhi Peace Foundation, Chennai, conducts various certificate courses for students from Class IV. The modules are different for each standard. Attempting them would definitely influence one on the long run and thus are lessons that lasts a lifetime.

There are similar courses for college students, teachers, parents and women.

Gandhi Peace Foundation, Chennai offers these books to each student at a rate of Rs.200.Lessons are presented in such a way that they instill into young minds values in a very subtle way. There is a questionnaire at the end of the material which students can attend and score to avail a certificate. Toppers join together at the Foundation on Gandhi Jayanti day to share their experiences and ideas in a creative manner. It helps to build a network of like minded people.

Students can attempt these modules anytime of their choice and from the comfort of their home also.

The Foundation also conducts workshops to facilitate Inter religious understanding and Peace Education in schools.

To read an interview with the expert, please visit the following link:
http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/07/stories/2011050763190200.htm


To know how to proceed to join the programme at school level, please follow this link:
http://www.hindu.com/yw/2011/06/21/stories/2011062150281100.htm


To get to know on how to form a youth forum under the aegis of Gandhi peace foundation, read:
http://www.gandhitopia.org/group/mgnd/forum/topics/youth-forum-for-micro-peace

Sandra Satheesh, a student from CMI Public School, Devagiri shares her experience on the course she attended in 2011 along with her viewson gandhian thoughts at:
http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/kids/article2520573.ece

For any other details, Dr.S.Kulandaisamy can be contacted at Gandhi Peace Foundation, 332, Ambujammal Street, Alwarpet, Chennai. PINCode: 600 018. Phone: 044-24993839/ 9962479005. On email : kulandhaisamy.gpf@gmail.com.

THIRUVATHIRA - A FESTIVAL FOR WOMEN

Kerala celebrates  Thiruvathira on 8th January 2012. A major festival of the state, it has many legends and myths attached to it. A festival that merges well into the culture of traditional Hindu families, it offers varying dimensions for following, depending on one's age and ambition.

Traditional folklore includes many items to keep devotees engaged during the night hours of Thiruvathira. Poratte or pulikali is one such event where in Calicut city even children are enthusiastically engaged in...
A video recorded at night from a courtyard:

The materialistic target is a suitable groom for unmarried girls, long lasting courtship for married women, Merging with the Lord and uplift for spiritual aspirants and elders.

To know about the different legends, rituals, special foods and its recipe, read:
http://calicutnet.com/articles/alisha/thiruvathira.htm

 Formerly an occasion for family get to-gethers, fulfuling all dimensions are practically difficult nowadays. Although most of the conservative aspects get left out, the festival still maintains its space of yore...

ALL ABOUT ONAM

• Onam is the national festival of Kerala. It is a harvest festival. It is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Chingam.(August-September)

• Onam rituals start on the day of "Atham". On this day, kids gather flowers and jointly prepare floral carpets called 'Pookalam' in the centre of courtyards.This is repeated daily for 10 days until "Thiruvonam". Clay or wooden idols representing Thrikakara Appan(Lord Maha Vishnu) are also placed in these pookalams.Well lit nilavilaku and naivedyams are also offered to the Lord daily.

• Other activities during these days include onathallu;onapottan,onapattu;etc. Girls enjoy swinging in the courtyards.

• On the Thiruvonam day, celebrations gain festive mood. New dress (Onakkodi); feast at lunch time(Onasadhya) on plantain leaves add colour to the occasion.It is believed that Lord Mahabali visits his subjects on this day.

• Legend:  Long ago, Mahabali was an Asura(demon) king who ruled Kerala.He was kind, wise and generous. There was joy, justice and prosperity in the kingdom. It was considered golden era.Old folk song praises this as follows: Maveli Nadu Vaaneedum kaalam....given below in full.Gods grew jealous of the rule and Lord Indra was doubtful whether Mahabali would gain power to oust him from Heaven!  So they sought help from Lord Vishnu. The Lord disguised himself as a small Brahmin boy, named Vamana and visited Mahabali. Vamana requested Mahabali for 3 footsteps of land and assumin a simple desire, Mahabali granted permission to measure out this land from his kingdom. Suddenly, Vamana assumed huge proportions and measured Earth and heaven in 2 foots. Mahabali, to keep his word and dignity, also realising that the Lord had fooled him, bowed and submitted himself for foot 3...Mahabali inturn for his gesture received a blessing, a boon which permitted him to visit his subjects once every year. This day is celebrated as Thiruvonam.

•  Onam is the season of many cultural events, carnivals, exhibitions, melas and sports. Keralites all over the world celebrate this festival with gay.

• Snake boat races during Onam is a famous tourist attraction. Locally called Chundan vallams the event is held on Punnamada lake in Alappuzha district. Songs sung by oars men are called Vanchipattu. Nehru trophy boat race, Aranmula Uthratathi vallam kali, Jalotsavam, Kumarakom Boat race are other popular races during the season.

• Onam is a festival that is built into the social fabric of the state. So people try their best to keep up with the spirit of the festive season.കാണം വിറ്റും ഓണം ഉണ്ണണം Thus goes the old adage.

  Most popular traditional folk song associated with onam.

മാവേലി നാട് വാണീടും കാലം 

മാനുഷ്യരെല്ലാരും ഒന്നുപോലെ

കള്ളവുമില്ല ചതിയുമില്ല

എളോളം ഇല്ല പൊളിവചനം

 കള്ളപറയും ചെറുനാഴിയും

കള്ളത്തരങ്ങള്‍ മറ്റൊനുമില്ല

നാരിമാര്‍ ബാലന്മാര്‍ മട്ടുലോരും 

നീതിയോടെങ്ങും വസിക്കും കാലം...

A set of onam songs are available as audio and video CD's. Our choice from a former collection for this annual celebration is an album Chinganilavu. Details are as noted below.

Album title- chinganilavu

Music Director: L.Sasikant

Lyrics- Chowallur Krishnan kutty & Girish Puthencherry(late)

Playback Singers- Satheesh babu, Ashalatha.

Chorus - Ragadeepam student wing

To catch a pulse of Onam in and around Calicut city, please watch this slide show.

Happy Onam 2011

View more presentations from calicutnet

To watch Onapottan, the legend of North Malabar, watch this video.

HAPPY ONAM 2011 TO ALL READERS...

                                               

INDIA CELEBRATES HER 65TH INDEPENDANCE DAY - ON AUGUST 15, 2011

UNITY IN DIVERSITY is the theme selected by my kid for presentation at school as our nation celebrates the 65th year of Independance on 15th of August, 2011. The idea conceived and coordinated by her beloved teacher Miss Tanuja Karunakaran, took me back to my own school days where we were trained on different languages to sing as part of choir in memory of efforts by M.B.Sreenivasan(late) on national integration.

 

We present  here some songs that can be used as part of such an event.

The Kannada and Gujarati songs selected are presently not available online. However lyrics of the Kannada song is noted below. (courtesy: Shri.L.Sasikant, Kozhikode and Shri.Srikanth Kammath, Mangalore)

Bharat mathe yu nina saputraru

hechara gondu baruthy harrooo

trivarna ranjitha dwajava neerisatha

matheya jaya jaya ennruvaroooooo...

The skit that focus on multiple diversities of culture (costume from different states), languages (placards written in various languages), songs and dance forms of each state, the various religions all depict the unique harmony in diversity of our motherland superbly.

JAI HIND