We are slowly inching
towards the date and day when we celebrate our country's 72nd Independence
Day. For most of us, the day has been reduced to nothing but a hint to check
for longer weekends to plan small vacations. No harm there. But there can
actually be a way to celebrate the day and its importance so that our kids
remember it and pride about.
I remember my
childhood days when Republic Day and Independence Day were celebrated with the
same enthusiasm as festivals. A month in advance we would start preparing on
national songs, make our own props for stage shows; little kids wore sarees or
white churidar-kurtas to school, whereas l carried flags and pinned flag
badges. We had a flag hoisting ceremony in our society, after which sports and
cultural programmes were organized to showcase unity in diversity in our
country. I remember having a lot of fun. There were documentaries on television
that described at large the independence struggle of the nation. We still had
parents and grandparents who had been a part of the freedom struggle and spoke
about the life and times back then. Even as I write this, I am stuck in time
and miss those days.
The value of
patriotism is slowly eroding out of our day to day existence. If you have
noticed, not all theatres or schools play national anthem during morning
assembly. Don't you think this way our kids are missing out a lot? Well, I
think so. Playing national anthem at public places not only reminds us about
our nation but also help us to devote a few minutes to respect our diverse
culture by singing the national song.
My little one is four
years old, and sings National Anthem and Vande Mataram. Though not very well
but it makes me very proud. Her school still hasn't started teaching any of
these songs. Thus, I have decided to celebrate the national day in a special
way to impart its importance. Not only this, I would love to share the same
with you so that you too enjoy celebrating Independence Day with your kid.
My Independence Day Plan:
- Soon
after bath, dress your child in tricolours of our national flag or simply in
white. Greet her with Indian flag and give her a badge.
- Make
a tricolour breakfast- sandwich or idlis. Also, make thematic lunch or
dinner.
- Attend
the flag hoisting event held by your society or any other place.
- Spend
time drawing and painting the tricolour flag, or make tricolour badges and
hair bands. I did this last year with kids in my apartment during a hobby
class which also involved other mommy friends. It's all fun!
- Play
some national songs to get your child in a patriotic mood.
- Tell
your child stories about national leaders.
- Try
and take her to a museum.
- Teach her about national bird, food, animal, sports, etc.
