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Brothers Sam and Dave together dig a hole. Their dog accompanies them. The digging goes on. And on. And on. In search of something ‘spectacular’. The trio after having dug for ages, fall through the hole, and get transported to a different world. Mac Barnett weaves a seemingly simple, yet effective and hugely entertaining tale of childhood innocence and imagination.

Barnett is an American author of stories for children. Having gotten his work translated into more than 30 languages worldwide, his writings have sold millions of copies, while also bringing in the tagged along critical acclaim.

The writer states that he lies to his readers (children). As is the case with any good piece or art, this lie arises out of honesty and a pure intention. Having worked with kids at a young age acquainted him with the children’s worldviews and perspectives. The way in which children react to and receive the fictional world served to them is vastly different as compared to that of the adults. They buy the idea of something very wondrous fantastically unfolding in front of them with an immense amount of conviction. And that’s what sets them apart. It’s also in a way a testament to their unadulterated, pure perception of the world they inhabit and the emotions they feel.

Barnett’s books usually come with complementary illustrations which livens up the reading experience for children. It helps them immerse themselves in the colorful world built together with a seamless blend of text and images. The books don’t necessarily offer any predictable solutions to the regular children’s book conflicts. They instead seek relatability, and keep things fairly real, and equally childlike, both at the same time.

His titles include the likes of ‘The first cat in space ate pizza’, ‘The great Zapfino’, ‘A polar bear in the snow’, ‘John’s turn’, ‘The important thing about Margaret wise Brown’, ‘The wolf, the duck and & the mouse’, ‘Noisy night’, ‘I love you like a pig’ and many more. The ‘Jack’ series itself spans across a range of titles like ‘Jack and Santa’, ‘Jack at the zoo’, ‘Jack at bat’, ‘Too many Jacks’, so on and so forth.

Barnett talks about one of his earliest books titled ‘Billy Twiitters and his Blue Whale problem’, revolving around a kid who gets a blue whale as a pet, which eventually creates a mess in his life, gets delivered by Fed-up, the boy carries this whale everywhere from his school to other public places. Quite absurd. And humorously engaging.

A 30 day trial period for such whales floated by. A kid wrote back in a hilarious post stating that he would bet 10 bucks they won’t be sending him the whale. The kid named Nico received an official statement from a law firm (or something equivalent) stating that his whale is stuck in some custom duty conflicts, because of which the delivery is delayed. As an alternative Nico was asked whether he would like to talk to the whale over a call. Obviously the kid jumped in. And absurd whale sounds were played over the call, ending with a beep (which in itself sounded like a whale). The adorable Nico got back with heartwarming replies. He told the whale that he misses him. And continued to drop in voice notes every now and then, which the author heard, and smiled wholeheartedly. Nico kept the whale informed about all of his whereabouts, including his school life, the bond he shared with his grandma, and the timely Christmas wishes for his distant whale friend.

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The indigenous people of New Zealand are referred to as the Maori tribes. Belonging to the Polynesian Islands, these people are famous for their art, culture, dance, music, and food. Their art is inspired by nature, has geometrical designs and the colours that play a significant role in showcasing a person’s social standing in the society.
The Maori tribes of New Zealand are known for intricate carving (Whakairo), tattooing (Tamoko), weaving (Raranga), and painting (Peitatanga). These are not just treated as art but considered to be a part of the identity of the Kiwis as it reflects their culture, their history, and explains their connection to their lands.
Let us have a closer look at each artform that give the Maori tribe a unique identity:
Carvings (Whakairo):

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Image Credits: https://www.newzealand.com/int/maori-carving/ (NewZealand.com)
The three main materials used by tribals for carving are wood, stone and marble. The tradition of carving intricate designs is passed on from one generation to another, therefore, the designs are traditional.
Traditional Maori craftsmen often use this skill to create canoes, weapons as well as musical instruments. These carvings serve a narrative as well as an aesthetic purpose as the motifs include mythological figures like koru (unfurling fern frond) and manaia (a mythical creature).
Fun Fact: Maoris are famous for their carving skills on bones as well. They make jewellery out of bones. Specific shapes symbolise specific ideas which are unique to their culture.
Tatooing (Ta Moko):

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Image Credits: https://titantattoos.com/?p=822 (Maori Tattoos)
The art of tattooing your body with a chisel is referred to as Ta Moko. While men usually have these tattoos on their legs, thighs and face, women get themselves tattooed on their lips and chins.
Also called Moko, these tattoos are a sacred art form that speaks volumes about the wearer’s status within a community i.e., his social standing. It is quite interesting to know that no two tattoos are the same and each tattoo depicts the ancestry of a person.
Fun Fact: Also called the Kiwis, people of New Zealand are continuing this tradition. Women still proudly get their lips and chins tattooed to further their identity in the society.
Weaving (Raranga):

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Image Credits: https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/119880798/whitianga-artist-raewyn-hildreth-finds-identity-in-flax-weaving (Whitianga artist Raewyn Hildreth finds identity in flax weaving)
From intricate wall paintings to items of necessity, weaving is an important activity among the Maori tribals. The tribals would use materials like flax to make baskets and even skirts. The designs have a checkered and lattice patterns that enhance the aesthetic appeal of the work.
The patterns woven convey meanings and act as a visual language that communicate cultural values. The fact that art is universal can be seen very evidently here as woven cane baskets are used in our day to day lives in India as well.
Fun Fact: A woven basket called Keta is used by people routinely to hold or carry food. In the photograph above, the lady can be seen carrying woven corsets which shows that people adapt with changing times and utilise their skills accordingly.
Painting (Peitatanga):

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https://www.prints.co.nz/page/fine-art/CTGY/Maori_Art_Design
Painting is also a form of art insanely famous among the Maori tribes. Loaded with symbolism and spirituality, the tribals adorn their carved wooden pieces with painting designs on them rather than on conventional surfaces like canvas. Natural pigments are used to colour the surfaces.
Fun Fact: The three main colours used in their artwork were red, white, and black. Red symbolises warmth and life; white for purity; and black represents the earth.
Conclusion
Maori tribal arts are a symbol of cultural legacy that narrate tales of ancestry, spirituality, and further a sense of community. Preservation of these arts is crucial for maintaining cultural identity and keep the modern generation abreast with the previous forms of art. As the artists adapt to changing times, these artworks stand as a testament to the resilience and vitality of Maori culture in the modern era..

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It is a trend to emphasise the study of subjects like Maths, Biology, Physics and Chemistry. Humanities are considered a poor cousin of these subjects. In fact, it is with great reluctance, hesitation and embarrassment that parents express their child’s intention to study any subject of the Humanities. The embarrassment does not stop at that. Great pain is taken to explain or justify that Humanities,too, have a bright future. For a long time, choosing a career in Humanities was considered as a sign of being a loser in the race of life. The children of today are lucky because the parents have realised that choosing a career should also mean letting children choose to be happy. Probably, parents of this generation have learnt lessons from their own upbringing where they were forced to be doctors engineers or bureaucrats. Besides these three professions choosing any other career like cooking, instructor yoga, choreographer were considered to be an adjustment in life, never mind the fact that the children enjoyed making their hobby as their profession. The parents head as well as their esteem had to be held high. The success of being a parent depended upon the success of the children.
But gradually there has been a change. With the effort of the schools and the education system on providing a wholesome education parents have realised that Humanities play a major role in chiselling the personality of the students. Successive interviews and feedback from grownups who did well but who also highlighted the role of music as a great stress buster offered proof that subjects like music, painting, dancing reading writing were essential to keep sanity. With increasing awareness about one surroundings because that is where one has to live as well as work people have realised that government is not there only to govern but also needs a feedback from the people to perform well. Every profession, be it the services or any business is directly or indirectly affected by the decisions of the government. The country’s future for the next five years depends upon the kind of government it is gifted by the people of the country. And the decisions which any government takes for 5 years affects the country for the next few decades. With the world becoming a global village and the movement of people across the world it becomes all the more pertinent that every individual should know what is happening around the world. The decision of a country on one end of the globe affects the economies of many countries. Turmoil and conflict in one country affects many countries.
To make my point clear, I would like to quote the example of Ukraine- Russia war. How did it affect us? Well, dear children, you saw how many of our children were studying in the medical colleges in Ukraine and had to be evacuated under extremely dangerous situation. The debate that started after the children had been evacuated safely was why can’t a huge country like India have medical colleges to cater to this very important career. Why are we putting the safety of our children in jeopardy and also sending precious currency to other countries in the form of hefty fee. India is running short of doctors and engineers but the brain drain can be seen when such professionals leave India to serve other countries. In the case of Israel- Palestinian war, again the number of Indians serving in those countries made the country sit up. What a huge number of Indians serving away from the country!
India is a country with rich human resources but unfortunately, it is not being used fruitfully. We have rich flora fauna and the perfect climate (ignoring the concept of global warming because it is man made) besides a great topography yet we are lagging behind. Indians are known to be hardworking and there are innumerable examples of Indians who do extremely well in other countries. Why is it that such hardworking Indians have to leave the country, their families and move abroad in search of better pastures? What have the successive governments done to curb or halt this emigration? It is here that the study of Civics or Political Science comes in. We all have to be responsible as citizens. We have been given the right to vote under Universal Adult Franchise. We have to remember that we are equal stakeholders and shareholders in the future of the Country. But sadly, most of us do not take this role seriously. We do not go and cast our vote seriously. Even if do, we vote according to caste, religion, region or other petty factors. We do not vote according to issues like climate change, corruption or other serious issues that adversely affect us.
The study of Humanities, especially Political Science, is very important because we all are fortunate to be born in a democracy which gives us a choice to ask questions, criticise and protest. We, citizens of India, have the liberty of freedom, speech and expression. Only when we keep the government on its toes by keeping a watch on its activities would it perform responsibly and efficiently. Studying Civics teaches us to be alert and aware citizens. The subject Inspires us to lead our life as responsible citizens to which the government is accountable and answerable. Only when we carve a bright future today by electing a responsible government can we dream of a better future. And studying civics has become fun with all the cartoons and factual information provided in the N.C.E.R.T books. We have to remember that it is the Political System that frames laws for the economic and social system. If the Political System is not efficient, can we expect it to pass laws that augur well for the society? Thus, it becomes imperative for us to know about our elected representatives and their performance. And if you are bored and in need of some entertainment, please tune in to the proceedings of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on the television. You will find your representatives in a slogan shouting contest and if you are lucky, you might see a walk out by some representatives. If you feel that becoming the monitor of your class is very prestigious then glance at the Speaker of the House and his/her helplessness in maintaining order in the house. You will get food for thought. And your interests in Civics as well as your Political System will only grow.

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I recently visited the Unakoti caves in Agartala in Tripura. We made a special trip as, as a family we are history buffs. The north-east part of India has hidden jewels and a beauty that is untouched. Thus, our visit to explore one of the beautiful yet untouched parts of India.

The Unakoti caves were the main attraction for they are designated as a World Heritage UNESCO site. ‘Unakoti’ literally means one less than 1,00,00,000 (one crore). The number of statues in Unakoti caves is exactly one less than 1,00,00,000 or 99,99,999 idols.

There are two different legends about the statues. If the 1st legend is to be believed, it is said that Lord Shiva, along with his wife, was accompanied by 99,99,999 gods. They were going to Kashi. Lord Shiva told the other Gods to get ready early in the morning so that they could continue with their journey. In the morning only Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were the ones who got up. Lord Shiva was so furious that he turned all the other Gods into statues of stone.

 

According to the second legend, Goddess Parvati and God Shiva told a man to make one crore statues in a specific time. They expected that he would never be able to make those many statues. The sculptor managed to complete all the statues in the limited time, except 1.

It is estimated that the statues date back to the 7th to 9th century. Each statue is of a different God. I was dumb struck on seeing so many different statues and of such huge size. Among the many statues, there are statues of Nandi, Ganesh ji, etc.

 

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We more often than not expect our kids to have goals in life. We do indulge and pamper them, but have certain expectations from them in terms of behavior, manners, communication, their thoughts and views. Often, we give them a leeway when they are young but the rigidity increases as they progress from kindergarten to their teenage years.

As a parent we always are on the lookout for doing the right thing for them, providing them with all the learning opportunities. This is done with the intention of helping the child identify her / his passion, hone the personality, learn talents that would help her / him in studies and life as well. Well, this intention is indeed noble. Yet often, it leads to frustration for the parent and the kids alike. The initiation of any action is done with a result in mind. When the desired result is not seen, it leads to negativity. This SMART Framework can help all in these scenarios.

The SMART Framework of goal setting refers to –
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Achievable
R – Relevant
T – Timely

It is a proven management mantra that has been used by professionals of all walks of life. The same framework can help parents set realistic goals for their kids, work towards them and see the results. Secondly, it can also act as a guide for kids as they embark on the journey to independence as they grow.

Parents can help kids in starting this journey by working on it together, guiding them and mentoring them. The collaborative journey helps the kids not only set realistic goals but parents too refrain themselves from being too expecting of their kids.
Let us now understand the framework-

1. SPECIFIC – We often hear parents and kids alike saying the following – I want to learn coloring, I want to learn tables, I want my child to keep the room tidy, my child must help in household chores. All these are ambiguous goals. We can help set specific goals using the 5W. Who, What, When, Where And Which.
Let’s look at the goal of keeping the room tidy. A specific goal would be –
I would ask my child(who) to put his clothes & books(what) in the cupboard( where) before going to play(when).

2. MEASURABLE – Whenever we ask kids their hobbies they talk about drawing or singing or sports. It doesn’t stop at that. They want to be the next Picasso or Sunidhi Chouhan / Justin Beiber or Ronaldo. These are immeasurable goals. Parents can help them set small sub-goals that would help them see how they work towards it and realize when it’s achieved.
For example a kid wants to become a famous youtuber. It’s easier said than done. Let him/ her start with the creation of their channel, upload videos and set a small target of say 50 subscribers in a month. This would help them work towards it step by step.

3. ACHIEVABLE – It is very important for the parents to make the kids aware about what would be possible in a given time frame and what would not be. For example, a child might want to win a prestigious debate competition. Considering that the child has just started his / her oratory journey, getting selected as one of the five students from his / her school for the said competition would be an achievable goal rather than winning it by clearing the three rounds of the competition.
Parents must take all possible efforts to make the child realize his / her potential at present and agree to help them in bettering it. Setting unachievable goals leads to dejection, sense of failure and loss of confidence. This must be avoided at all costs.

4. RELEVANT – These are the goals where the child has an inherent interest and is not under any pressure to follow or pursue them. Kids join hobby classes just because their friends join or their parents want them to. A case in point would be a child who wants to pursue martial arts but joins swimming classes as his friends have joined. The child would not enjoy the activity of swimming at all as his interest lies in martial arts.

As parents, here we must realize that our kids may have their own choices which we may not relate to and find difficult to agree to. We must however put them first and let them follow what they like.

5. TIMELY / TIME BOUND- All things in our lives are time bound. Goals are no exception. Giving timelines to goal setting helps put them in a time frame and makes us take actionable steps accordingly. For example, if a child wants to study for the upcoming exams, making a time bound schedule for each subject down to the details of each chapter and topics therein would help him know the amount of hours he needs to study daily. Even simple things like play time need to have a time schedule so that a proper regime can be followed.

These simple steps can help all to achieve the desirable. So when are you starting with the SMART framework for your child?

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Festivals are occasions that bring joy, unity, and a renewed sense of hope to our lives, and if we reflect on their essence, the deeper meaning we realise that what we actually celebrate during festivals is our togetherness, love and bonds with others. We do not celebrate merely an occasion, but the cheeriness of our spirit.

The Dalai Lama has aptly said, “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.”

This festivity lies within us, our actions and intentions, it makes us participate in creating joy, spreading love, and nurturing meaningful connections – resulting in a celebration.
Wasn’t this the quote by Buddy, a character from the movie Elf meant when he said- “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
So, a festival is to feel the festivity inside and ignite it in people around you, which makes childhood a festivity on repeat – daily!

Children are precious young souls who are mostly in a perpetual state of boisterous festivity, and their presence suffices as a good enough reason for feeling dizzily celebratory all the time.
They are the source of joy and hope, our chance to correct our past mistakes and make new ones, an opportunity to grow better, to see through their eyes lit up with joyful brightness of tomorrow’s celebration.
But the best festival is childhood and this is the responsibility of us the elders to ensure that whether Diwali or Eid, Guruparab or Onam, the celebration of childhood must not be overshadowed by external trappings of the world, the feisty spark of childhood must not fade away.

We at wizkidcarnival offer some tips to ensure this –

Involvement –

Involving children in the preparation of festivals is the simplest and surest way to make them feel connected and responsible for the festival. Rather than make them glued to their gadgets with comfort and give junk food items to ensure smooth festive preparations, we must get uncomfortable and involve them in proceedings.

The involvement must be age and inclination appropriate. For example , a four year old child can’t take care of arranging flowers at the altar, but he can surely pass garlands , leaves and other items to the elder standing on a ladder helping decorate the entrance of the house or the temple. This little involvement also ensures that this four year old is never going to destroy any entrance decoration, ever.

Recognition –

Irrespective of the task the elder must ensure that the credit goes to its due place. Not once must the elders forget to mention to each guest how diligently the four year old helped his uncle decorate the entrances of the entire house!
Share it just like that, with pride, with gratitude, but as plain fact. Do not compare with other four year olds nor allow the child to be inspected and shown off as a decor item by guests, it might sow the seed of vanity in him.

Blocking Virtual World-

Make the festive time a social media free time. The pictures can be uploaded later, the entire day’s footage needn’t be posted , your life is not a reality show where each moment needs to be viewed by the public. Be strict regarding virtual life taking over real life.

Taking care –

To rear better children, we need to take better care of ourselves and our elders. The time we spend with our elders, siblings, neighbours and friends builds the foundation of our children’s future relationships and bonds. We must also ensure to maintain the sanctity of the rituals and follow them devotedly – creating a connection between the occasion, the ritual and the relaxed happy feeling in the child’s mind. This works as a de-stress trigger, a comforting memory in his later adult life.

Thoughtful gifts –

These nurtures the soul of the giver and receiver, both. It’s always a pleasure to realise that a family member knows us in a way that he/she is able to present us something we always desired! To gift readymade sweets to our elderly aunt who is diabetic and is a voracious reader is silly, to gift her some bestseller is polite, but to gift her her favourite author’s latest work would be thoughtful and emotionally fulfilling- a moment of unforgettable pure joy, etched forever as a happy memory not just for her, but for you and the children who would witness it.

Meaningful conversations –

Are the best ways to solve issues, ease out tensions and bring on the cheer, the real inner cheer, independent of streamers and noise, the inner music of the soul filling the surroundings.

Children are sensitive to the energies in the environment, they might not understand words, they understand vibes. Harmony is the best gift we as elders can give them and meaningful conversations ensure harmony.

All these tips when practiced in routine work wonders for relationships , for our children, for us. The festivity multiplies magically with children, who when reared properly have the power to make life a never-ending celebration.

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The book is penned down by Jules Gabriel Verne in 1828. JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH is filled with an amazing sense of mystery and suspense. It involves secrets, deciphering codes, mysterious messages and many more that add up to a very interesting case. The journey takes place as the two protagonists of the story, travel to the beautiful place of Iceland.

They are Professor Liedenbrock and his nephew Axel. The professor discovers a certain script in Iceland. This leads to him deciphering the exact region where exists a hidden passage leading straight to the CENTRE OF THE EARTH.

The story is surrounded with twists and turns and scenarios that are unfathomable. It completely transcends the reader into the plot itself, allowing them to use their imaginative skills to read it further. One such plot twist is – the nephew, Axel discovering the truth of the mystery but keeping it from Professor Liedenbrock!

It also educates the reader about the great values of being patient, curious, having a sense of responsibility amongst others. Its also teaches us about the use of common sense in all walks of life.

The author has created a magnificent book that transforms our surroundings into scenes of the story and makes us thoroughly enjoy it. JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH has also been adapted into many movies as well as series in science fiction genre.

I strongly recommend this book to all who are interested in exploring the unknown. They would deeply enjoy this masterpiece.

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Festivals are a unique blend of celebration of not just the customs and culture, but also the appreciation of unity and bondage among our friends, family and the neighbours. In India, every festival or celebration has a huge and immaculate story behind it. Its nitty-gritties are defined by vast cultural and historical occurrences. Every second of the celebration corresponds to an incredible heritage.

With globalization and the influence of western culture, we are noticing a downfall of our respect towards our very own culture and heritage. Our festivals have taken on more of a money-making face, rather than the celebrations face. The funny fact is that the Indians, who promote themselves as belonging to the highest orders of religious respect too, are sucked into this money – making schemes, and the very essence of festivities is now lost in the world of commercialization.

People are lost in temptations and succumb to the flashy advertisements, greedy minds of the commercial hubs and peer pressure. Planning celebrations right from clothing, sweets, etc., which was once a family affair according to the means and resources of family, is long lost. Commercialization has led to overspending on unwanted materials and status show-off purchases. There is no real value for the love, memory and value attached to the festive purchases. Not anymore.

The most common and important feat of visiting temples and other religious places during the festival days has now become the least priority for many. Ever wondered why? A person has to wade through food stalls, retail stalls, and spiritual stall selling fake promises before he could enter the gain gate and yet is expected to pay ticket fares and flaunt the status to have a simple darshan of their favourite deity for a couple of minutes near the sanctum sanctorum. Needless to say, the joy and rejoice of celebration is lost. Many have sought to stay at home and watch movies and special programmes and celebrate among the multitude of TV commercials.

Now, if you ask me who benefits from these exploits, I advocate for the obvious answer. The organizers gain much from these glorified activities. This encourages other people to invoke such organizations for their very own celebrations thereby resulting in the commercialization of even the relatively small family festivities like weddings, and naming ceremonies. Now, I don’t refute the fact that marketing schemes are perfect for swindling the most amount of money from a specific person, but the question is why would you incorporate those in festivals and celebrations of love, life and rich heritage?

Owing to this incredible commercialization, what was once a home of glorious celebrations is now a dwindled shadow of its past, overtaken by the greedy minds of industrialists trying to establish their posh businesses in the guise of entertaining citizens who look forward to the best celebration. This is a vicious cycle and it is on our shoulders to prevent this from continuing.

We, the people of India, having been a part in the grand mix of its religion, heritage and scintillating culture must discourage such commercialization of festivals from their roots. By supporting festivities in rural regions where none of this hodge-podge is present, we can connect with our ancestors – our roots, and also gain the support of every common man in this endeavor, we can work towards breaking free from this irritable commercialization of the cultural festivities. It’s time for us to stand up for our very own culture and its deeply rooted significance in our past and present, and ensure the continuity of its presence and importance in the future.

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“There was a big fire in our other house. All our chairs burned. So did our sofa and so did everything else.” Rosa says.

A tragic fire accident burns down the entire house of a sweet loving family, the trio – little Rosa, her mother and grandmother, settle along a new found place in the absence of any comfort, kind neighbors lend a helping hand by dropping in whatever necessary amenities needed including some furniture here and there, but nothing that’s soft and comforting. Eventually Rosa, along with her mother and grandmother, save coins day in and day out, with a heartfelt desire to buy a new chair for her mother to rest upon at the end of her long tiresome day working as a waitress. Every penny, every little contribution adds up, and one day the jar goes full. And finally the search for the ideal chair begins.

The hugely adorable and heartwarming book ‘A chair for my mother’ by Vera Baker Williams takes us back to the days filled with innocence, kindness and never ending love. The writing emphasizes upon the sense of belongingness, family and community bonding.

Born in Hollywood, California; Williams was a celebrated children’s writer and illustrator. Her books and writings deal with simple mundane life and the tender nature of childlike innocence. Progressive and open minded approach to world building makes her readers engage with the ever widening horizons of human nature in its purest sense.

‘Chair for my mother’ was followed by ‘Something special for me’ and ‘Music, music for everyone’, where the titular character Rosa returns and spreads joy left, right and center. ‘Cherries and cherry pits’, ‘Lucky song’ and ‘More more more said the baby’ along with a few other titles add up to Williams’ terrific body of work.

Author’s real life influences found a way into her writings. Reportedly during the terrifying phase of Depression, her family lost their home and had to inevitably relocate. Turning such tragic episodes of life into a heartwarming tale filled with hope, optimism and love teaches us all quite a lot. So much so that it need not necessarily be restricted to a mere set of words. These are feelings. These are emotions. In their most unadulterated form.

Williams, along with her writings, has also contributed to society in multiple different ways, by taking a stand against anti-war, anti-violence and all kinds of anti-humanitarian activities, time and again. As an artist in its truest sense, through her books, illustrations and her humanitarian causes, she has helped society and the world we reside become a comparatively better and a kinder place to look upto.

‘The passion to teach, to share deeply experienced “lessons from life,” is embedded in all literature’ Williams states, and inspires kids and adults alike.

“Finally we found the chair we were all dreaming of. And the money in the jar was enough to pay for it.”

And thus, life comes full circle!

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Artworks are often influenced by the geographical location of a place. For example, Punjabi art forms in India and those in Pakistan are identical. The Tibetan influence may be observed in Nepalese and Bhutanese artworks, which brings to the front that art knows no boundaries and has the capacity to please everyone. Art has the capability of making a place famous all over the world. While Maldives is famous for the lacquer work, Sri Lankan artists are well known for their Batik technique all over the world.

  • Bhutan and Nepal: Thangka paintings are very famous in countries like Nepal and Bhutan. This artform has Tibetan influence. The canvas is unconventional as it is prepared with silk and cotton. Then a sketch is made by the artists followed by the outline of sacred figures. Pigments from minerals are used to add colour. For embellishments, gold leaf is used in the paintings. The brushwork is very fine and detailed which makes the work appear more detailed.
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  • Maldives: The most famous artform of Maldives is a combination of carving and painting. Lacquer work involves intricate carving designs onto wooden surfaces or ornaments. Layers of lacquer are applied on the surface followed by polishing. Artists use vibrant colours to enhance the appearance and complement the work.Use of bright colours is a common feature in all the artworks that are practised in the Asian continent. Bright paints, fine brushwork and bright papers are used by artists extensively.
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  • Sri Lanka: Batik technique is a technique of dyeing cloth. The technique includes three steps, namely, waxing, dyeing, and scraping. The wax is first applied to create designs on a sketched area of the fabric. The fabric is then dyed, wax is removed and the fabric is left behind with a beautiful design etched on it. The technique is also followed in Southern states like Tamil Nadu, and Chennai.Yet another example of how art knows no boundaries and can become a common connection between two countries.The techniques have evolved with time as screen printing is now used to create beautiful designs.
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  • Pakistan: In Pakistan, the talent of artists is clearly exhibited on trucks and buses. Truck art and calligraphy is taken very seriously in Pakistan. Yes, beautifully decorated trucks with glittery tassels hanging from the side view mirrors and funny yet smart quotes written on the different sides of the truck is a sheer spectacle. The beautifully written poetry in Urdu and Punjabi that are usually comic in nature add to the experience of travelling. The best part is the horns that mimic the tune of famous songs.
  • Japan: The art of folding paper and making interesting figures is something that fascinates everyone from a young age. The Japanese have mastered the art of taking a simple square sheet of paper and making geometric wonders out of it.The artists draw lines on paper and fold the paper accordingly at perfect angles to resemble a shape or a thing. It is a perfect example of how your ideas can be combined with geometric rules and when these rules are applied smartly, beautiful things can be created.Art needs immense patience, and coordination and allows us to appreciate beauty in simplicity.
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From complementing beautiful carvings with colourful designs and fine brushwork, to depicting Gods and Goddesses in paintings, art in the continent is like a magical storybook.

In this article, we have learned that art knows no boundaries and art as well as culture bind people together. Every work of art tells a tale; therefore, traditional works of art have religious as well as mythological significance which serves not only an aesthetic purpose but also an educative one. Years of practice and complete dedication is required to become a seasoned artist because it is only then that you can master the skill and become a renowned artist in the world.