Shalu Sharma's Blog

Respectful, realistic India packing Temple Ready: What to Wear in India Calculator Choose your season and itinerary to build a practical clothing, footwear and modesty checklist. Create your India packing list Traveller Woman Man Prefer neutral advice Month of travel January February March April May June July August September October November December Main itinerary Temples and cities Temples, cities and beaches Goa / beach holiday Himalayan or hill areas Build my packing checklist India has many climates and each religious site can set its own rules. Treat this as a starting list and check individual temples, mosques, gurdwaras and other sites before visiting. The simplest temple outfit: lightweight clothing that covers shoulders and knees, plus shoes that are easy to remove. Carry a large scarf or shawl, but remember that a covering cannot always make prohibited clothing acceptable. What shoul...

First-time India rail guide Which Indian Train Class Should You Book? Answer four quick questions and get a clear recommendation for 1A, 2A, 3A, SL, CC or 2S. Indian train class quiz Type of journey Overnight / I want to sleep Daytime / I want a seat Budget Medium Low High How do you feel about heat? I strongly prefer air-conditioning I can manage without AC Privacy preference Some separation is important As private as possible An open coach is fine Choose my train class Recommendations describe typical coaches. Facilities vary by train, coach design and route; always check the classes actually offered before booking. The shortest answer: for a first overnight journey, 2A is the comfortable privacy-conscious choice and 3A is the value choice. SL is non-AC. For a daytime intercity train, CC is usually the easiest air-conditioned option. Indian train class codes in plain English Indian r...

Indian Culture for Kids: A Complete Guide to India's Traditions, Festivals, Food and Everyday Life India is a country of colourful festivals, hundreds of languages, ancient stories, busy cities, quiet villages, delicious regional foods, music, dance, different religions and family traditions that have developed over thousands of years. But there is something important to understand before learning about Indian culture for kids : there is no single Indian culture that describes everyone. India is enormous. A family in Kerala may speak a different language, eat different food and celebrate different traditions from a family in Punjab. Life in Mumbai can look very different from life in rural Bihar. Religious traditions also vary between Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain and other communities. That diversity is one of the most fascinating things about India. What is Indian culture for kids? Indian culture includes the languages, foods, clothes...

How to Teach Hinduism to Kids: A Parent’s Guide to Beliefs, Gods, Festivals and Traditions How do you explain Hinduism to a child? It sounds like a simple question, but Hinduism contains thousands of years of stories, philosophy, festivals, sacred texts, gods and goddesses, family traditions and different ways of worship. For a young child, however, learning about Hinduism does not need to begin with complicated theology. It can begin with a diya glowing during Diwali. It can begin with a story about Rama and Sita, an image of Ganesha, Krishna playing his flute, flowers offered during puja, a visit to a mandir, or a grandparent explaining why the family follows a particular tradition. This guide looks at how to teach Hinduism to kids in a simple, meaningful and age-appropriate way. It is designed for parents and grandparents passing Hindu traditions to the next generation, as well as teachers and families who simply want children to understand one of the world's ...