Tag: writing

Dancing with My Superhero Papa

On By jaganmayanandLeave a comment

Every year we celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi in our apartment. The celebration goes on for 7 to 9 days. All the families in our apartment come together every evening for puja. After the puja, we usually have cultural programs and fun games. Last year, my Papa and I decided to give a dance performance together. We took a long time to choose the song. We listened to many Bollywood, Tollywood, and even Hollywood songs. Finally, we decided to perform a folk dance from Odisha called Sambalpuri dance. The song we chose was the famous Sambalpuri song “Rangabati Rangabati.” My Papa told me that this song was popular even when he was a school-going boy.

We listened to the song many times. Since I could not understand Sambalpuri language, my father explained some of the meanings to me. But more than the meaning, I loved the beats and music. Whenever the song played, I just wanted to dance. We started practicing 10 days before our performance. Every evening we practiced for 30 minutes in front of our TV. Some dance steps were difficult for me, so my Papa taught me some easy and fun steps.

When my father visited my grandparents’ house few days back, he brought my grandmother’s Sambalpuri saree for me. The saree was around 30 to 40 years old, but it still looked so beautiful. Sambalpuri sarees are World famous. The cloth is soft, colorful, and very pretty. I loved the bright colors and beautiful patterns made by the talented weavers.  My father also bought Sambalpuri cloth for himself and stitched a nice shirt from it. We knew that with our Sambalpuri song and Sambalpuri dress, we were going to rock the stage!

On the evening of the performance, my mother helped me with my makeup. My father took a Lady palm plant leaf from the garden and carefully cut that to decorate my hair. It gave me a tribal look. After getting ready, we went downstairs, and everyone was surprised to see us in our beautiful traditional dress. They never expected us to perform like this. Everyone clapped when we went onto the stage.

Then the music started, and so did our dance. We tried our best and enjoyed every moment. Sometimes I forgot my steps, and my Papa quietly showed me what to do next. I danced with all my heart, and so did my Papa. I have never seen the fathers of my friends dancing on stage like this. But my Papa is my superhero. He can do anything. He told me that dancing with me on stage was one of his dreams, and this was the perfect occasion for it.

After our performance, all my friends came to me and told me how well I danced and how pretty I looked. All the uncles and aunties appreciated both me and my Papa. It was such a proud and happy moment for us.

This became one of the most wonderful memories for our family. My mother recorded our dance video, and sometimes we still watch it together on our TV and feel very happy.

Secrets Under the Microscope

On By jaganmayanandLeave a comment

One day, my father gave me a surprise. He showed me a small device and told me that we could see many different organisms that are invisible to our naked eyes. It was a very small device that I could hold in my palm. He told me that he had purchased it from Amazon. The device was called the Carson MicroFlip 100x-250x LED Lighted Pocket Microscope.

I am Discovering an Invisible World

My father went to the balcony and collected a pinhead-sized amount of soil from a flower pot and added it to a drop of water. He mixed it gently with a brush and then took a small stroke of the mixture onto a cover slip. He inverted the cover slip onto a glass slide and placed it under the microscope. He turned on the microscope and connected his smartphone to it. Now we could see the magnified image directly on the phone screen. We could even take pictures and record videos using the phone. I was amazed to see different kinds of organisms moving here and there in that tiny drop of water—organisms that we could never see with our naked eyes. Some were sliding, while others were gliding. We called our mother, and she also looked at them. She said, “That is why we should never touch dirty water.”

The Hidden Microorganisms in Garden Soil

Then my father pulled a few hairs from his head and placed them on a glass slide under the microscope. We were very curious to see how hair looked under magnification. Under the microscope, the hairs looked like huge pipes, and the base of the hair, called the hair follicle, looked like the base of a coconut tree. Overall, it felt as if I was looking at bamboo trees growing out from a bush.

A Closer Look at Hair and Hair Follicles

Next, my father brought a hibiscus flower and wanted to show me how pollen grains looked under the microscope. He gently dusted the pollen grains—the tiny yellow grain-like structures at the tip of the flower—onto the glass slide using a brush. OMG! What I saw under the microscope looked like deadly viruses shown in toothpaste advertisements. My father explained that pollen grains have many different structures and that they vary from plant to plant. He said that the spike-like structures on this pollen help it attach to the stigma, which helps in pollination.

Tiny Yellow Pollens of Hibiscus
Pollen Under the Microscope

I really enjoyed exploring a completely different world through the microscope. There are so many organisms around us that we cannot see with our eyes. Many things that look very simple to us are actually far more complex and beautiful when viewed under a microscope. It made me realize that there is an entire hidden world all around us waiting to be discovered.

A special trip to my Grandfather’s agricultural land in Indravati

On By jaganmayanand2 Comments

I went to Indravati during my Dussehra vacation this year. This is the place where my father spent his childhood. We went there to explore this beautiful place together. My father took us to a small piece of land that my grandfather had purchased beside the Indravati River many decades ago. My father often tells me how he spent a lot of time there enjoying nature and helping with the agricultural work during weekends and holidays.

The nearest town to Indravati is Nowrangpur. We reached Nowrangpur in the evening on 26th September. The next morning, on 27th September, we started our journey to Indravati at 9:00 AM. On the way, we stopped for breakfast at a roadside stall around 9:30 AM. It was very crowded, so I ate my breakfast inside the car. Even though it was a small roadside stall, the food was really delicious! My father said, “Whenever you see a crowd at a food stall, it means the food there is good.”

We reached my grandfather’s land by 10:30 AM. As soon as I got down from the car, my father pointed to a small creeper and said, “If you touch this plant, it will fold its leaves inward and droop. In Odia, it is called Lajakuli lata.” I smiled and told my father, “This is the Touch-Me-Not plant! I studied about it in my GK class last year.” The creeper was growing all along the roadside, and I really enjoyed playing with it.

Bhoomi playing with ‘Touch me not’ plant

When I entered the farm, I saw greenery everywhere. In the middle of the rice field, I noticed a scarecrow, and I was very excited to take a photo with it. Siva uncle (the tenant farmer) told my father that he made it using his old torn clothes. He also said that when the wind blows, the scarecrow waves its hands. I thought that must look very scary! It can easily scare children like me.

Bhoomi with the Scarecrow

The Siva uncle’s wife took me around the farm and showed me different plants. I saw mango trees, banana trees, lychee plants, turmeric plants, jackfruit trees, bamboo, teak, and cashew trees. My father told me, “These big trees were planted by my father. It is his hard work that we are enjoying the fruits today.”

Siba’s wife showing Bhoomi different plants

Then Siva uncle showed me the Mancha — a bamboo hut raised above the ground. It is used as a temporary shed for resting. My father said that sitting on the Mancha and gazing at the lush green rice fields was one of his favorite pastimes when he was a child. We all sat there for a while, enjoying the view and the gentle breeze.

Entire family enjoying the grreenery from Mancha
Bhoomi climbing the Mancha alone

Next, my father took me to a kaccha house near the Mancha. It was made of mud and polished with cow dung. Many small agricultural tools were stored inside. My father and Siva uncle plucked some pomelo fruits for us, and my father also harvested a whole bunch of bananas from the field.

Bhoomi’s father showing the fresh Pomelo fruit
at the Kaccha House

Then came a big surprise! Siva uncle had brought a swing for me. He tied it to one of the branches of the mango tree. Soon, my mother and I began swinging together. We went up and down, laughing and enjoying every moment of the ride.

Bhoomi enjoying the swing with mother

After some time, Siva uncle invited us to his home, which was on the other side of the river. As the water level was low, my father carried me on his shoulders, and we crossed the river to reach his village, Kastiguda. Siva uncle’s home was a small kaccha house, but it was very beautiful inside. He lives in a joint family with his father, two sons, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren. Since it was festival time, we gave them new clothes, sweets, chocolates, and toys for the kids. They, in return, offered us some fruits and local sweets.

Bhoomi with Siva uncle’s wife
Siva Uncle’s Joint Family

In the backyard, I saw a mother hen with her tiny chicks grazing together. I asked my father to get the chicks for me. My father and Siba uncle’s son helped catch them, and soon I was holding them in my hands. I played with them happily, but they started chirping loudly, calling for their mother. The hen was watching me from a distance. When I went near to return the chicks, the mother hen suddenly jumped and pecked my leg with her beak! I got scared, but everyone laughed. My father smiled and said, “This is normal for any mother. They are always very protective of their children.”

Bhoomi holding the chicks

Later, my father showed me a hand pump in front of Siva uncle’s house. I had never seen one before because we live in a big city. He showed me how to pump water. It was a bit hard for me, but I still managed to get some water out. It was such great fun!

Bhoomi using the hand pump!

What I Learned

This trip to Indravati was one of the most special journeys of my life. I learned how beautiful and peaceful village life can be. I saw how farmers work hard to grow food and take care of nature. I also understood how much love and care people in villages share with each other.

It made me feel proud of my father and grandfather, and grateful for the beautiful memories they have given me. I will always remember this trip and hope to visit Indravati again soon!