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Archive for the 'India' Category
Contents
Posts
Chanda Mama – “Moon” Video by Playing for Change
Friday, October 2nd, 2009Chanda Mama is a song from India about the moon. Different versions exist in the various languages of India. This one is in the Telugu language, a language mainly spoken in southern India.
Playing for Change made the Chanda Mama video with musicians around the world. Playing for Change creates music all over the world to make money to build music and art schools in communities that are in need of inspiration and hope. Music and art can have meaning across cultures and be appreciated by people of all economic classes and educational backgrounds. What better way to improve the world!
The lyrics to the Playing for Change version of Chanda Mama (in the video) are something like this…
Chanda maama chanda maama raavayyaa
nannu yettukoni muddulaadu kovayyaamaaraalu nenenni cesinaa gaaraalu nive cupinaa
maaraalu nenenni cesinaa gaaraalu nive cupinaaChanda maama chanda maama raavayyaa
nannu yettukoni muddulaadu kovayyaaIf anyone can help with the meaning of these lyrics (and/or if you can verify or correct the original lyrics), please let us know in the comments below.
We have another version of Chanda Mama which is a Telugu children’s rhyme, with an mp3. You can click the link to hear it and to read the lyrics in Telugu with an English translation.
Enjoy!
Mama Lisa
Banana Dosai – A Dessert from India
Monday, September 14th, 2009I came across a video for Banana Dosai today. It looks yummy! We’ve been trying to ease our kids into Indian food – we love it and we’d like to expose our children to the varied cuisines of the world. Some Indian food is too spicy for younger American kids. This dessert looks like a good introduction. Banana Dosai is like banana pancakes or dumplings.
Depending on where you live, you may need to find a specialty food store to find some of the ingredients or order them on the internet. It’s possible you could simply substitute the butter for ghee (which the chef in the video says you can) and cake flour for maida (this I’m not sure of and I haven’t tested it myself yet).
Recipe for Banana Dosai
4 ripe bananas
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped cashews
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped raisins
Butter or ghee (a type of clarified butter)
1/4 cup maida (finely milled wheat flour – similar to cake flour in the West)
1/2 cup Rice flour
crushed cardamom seeds (optional)
Sugar to tasteMash bananas. Add chopped raisins, cashews, rice flour, maida and a little sugar. Mix. Add a little crushed cardamom seeds if desired. It should be a pasty consistency.
Griddle should be at 325 F. Put spoonful of batter on griddle. Put a few drops of ghee on top of batter and let it cook until lightly brown on both sides.
Here you can watch it made…
I’d skip the spicy sauce that the chef in the video recommends, if you’re serving this to children!
This is a good dessert for the Indian Festival of Diwali!
You can find more Indian recipes at at Vahrehvah.com .
Enjoy!
Mama Lisa
Ram Navami a Hindu Festival
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009Ram Navami is April 3rd this year. It’s a Hindu Festival that’s also called Ramanavami. It’s a celebration of the birth of Rama.
Vishnu is the supreme God according to the Hindu religion. There are 10 incarnations of Vishnu – they are known as the “Dasavatara” (dasa means 10 in Sanskrit). Nine of the incarnations of Vishnu are thought to have appeared in the past and the 10th is supposed to come in the future. Rama is the 7th incarnation. Ram Navami celebrates his birthday.
The Ramayana is a great epic poem of India. Rama is the hero of The Ramayana (”Romance of Rama”). On Ram Navami, people tell stories from this great poem.
The stories involve Rama, his brother, Lakshmana, Hanuman and Rama’s wife, Sita. In some places there are Rama Navami processions with chariots carrying people dressed up as these four personages.
Some people also fast for this festival and exchange gifts with their loved ones.
Photos of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009Here are some wonderful photos of the Taj Mahal (plus one of an elephant walking down the street) taken by Matt Mullenweg…
Check out Matt Mullenweg’s Blog to see more photos of Agra and the Taj Mahal plus miscellaneous stuff about Wordpress. This blog is powered by WordPress as is Mama Lisa’s World. If you’re thinking about starting your own blog, I’d recommend checking it out!
-Mama Lisa
Mama Lisa Now Has a Facebook Group
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009We’d love it if you’d join the Mama Lisa Facebook Group. You can post anything you’d like about your culture. You can post your own musical recordings or YouTube videos… Links to culture and musical sites… Photos of your country… Questions about songs or cultural issues… Anything related to World Culture and Music…
Click on the icon below to access the group. If you have a Facebook account already, you just need to click on “Join the Group” to join. If you’re not a member, you simply have to sign up for free to become a member and then you can join the Mama Lisa Group…
Looking forward to seeing you in Facebook!
Mama Lisa
Can Anyone Help with a Hindi Song about a Pussy Cat? It’s from an English Album – Also looking for the album!
Friday, February 20th, 2009Kathy emailed me asking for help finding a 30 year old album…
Hi Lisa,
My daughter had an album of children’s songs, which came out about 30 years ago. The album has long since disappeared but we really enjoyed one song on it. It starts off in English…
Pussy cat, pussycat with eyes so bright,
You sleep all day and you go out in the night,
There’s another line I can’t remember, and then..
…that a doggie doesn’t catch you up a tree!The singer then sings in Hindi (I think). It’s very lively – my daughter sang it all the time. Have you any idea where we can find it? Thanks,
Kathy
If anyone can help with the song or album, please let us know in the comments below.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
Dancing Around the World
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008This guy Matt has literally danced his way around the world, to a Bengali song. Check it out. It’s great!
Symbolic Foods Eaten Around the World for New Years
Saturday, December 29th, 2007In many parts of the world, the foods eaten on New Years Eve and New Years Day have important symbolic meanings. These symbols seem to fall into several major categories.
The first class symbolizes financial prosperity. This type of food is round like coins. Often, the dish will be round beans, like lentils, that will expand when it cooks, symbolizing expanding fortunes. Another financial symbol is food with big green leaves, representing paper money. The green may also be for growth. Foods like this are cabbage, collard greens and kale. Golden colored foods are also good for financial rewards in the New Year.
The second type of New Years food symbol represents the hope of having food on the table throughout the year. Pork is one important symbol of eating well year round. It’s also a sign of prosperity. In the olden times, if your family had a pig, you were doing well!
In some countries, actually having food on your table and/or plates at the stroke of midnight is a sign that you’ll have food throughout the year.
A third symbol involves eating sweet food in order to have a sweet year. In some countries people bake a coin in a sweet cake and the person who gets the coin will have good luck throughout the year. In Spain, Portugal, and parts of South and Central America, 12 sweet grapes, one for each month of the year, are eaten at midnight. The hope is to eat 12 sweet grapes to have 12 sweet months!
Fish is thought to symbolize good luck in many countries.
Another symbol for good luck involves eating food in a ring shape – like doughnuts or ring shaped cakes. This represents coming full circle to successfully complete the year – that’s good luck.
In Japan, long Buckwheat Soba noodles symbolize long life. Just don’t break them while you’re eating them!
Here’s a list of some symbolic food types and the places where they’re eaten for the New Year. Feel free to let us know what’s eaten for New Years in your country, in the comments below.
Round Food (Like Coins for Monetary Luck)
Italy, Brazil & Germany (Lentils)
Germany (Pancakes)
Philippines (Round Fruit)
Southern US (Black-eyed Peas)Green Leafy Vegetables (Like Paper Money for Monetary Luck)
Southern USA (Collard Greens & Turnips)
Denmark (Kale)
Germany (Sauerkraut)Golden Food (Like Gold for Monetary Luck)
Southern USA (Corn Bread)
Pig (Symbol of Plentiful Food in the New Year)
Hungary (Roast suckling pig with a 4 leaf clover in its mouth)
Italy (Cotechino con lenticchie – pork sausage with lentils)
Germany (Kassler mit Sauerkraut – financial luck)
Pennsylvania Dutch (USA – Pork with Sauerkraut)
Austria
ChinaFood on the Table or Plate at Midnight (Symbol of Plentiful Food in the New Year)
Germany
PhilippinesSweets (Symbolic of a Sweet Year or Good Luck)
Hungary (Doughnuts)
Greece (Round cake called Vasilopita – made with a coin baked inside – whoever gets the coin is lucky throughout the year)
Israel (Jewish New Year – Apple dipped in honey & grapes)
India
Egypt (Candy for kids)
Korea (Sweet Fruits)
Norway (Rice Pudding with an almond inside – good luck to the one who gets the almond)12 Grapes at Midnight (Symbolizing 12 Sweet Months)
Spain
Portugal
Mexico
Cuba
Ecuador
PeruRing Shaped Food (Good Luck)
Mexico (Rosca de Reyes – Luck)
Netherlands (Olie Bollen – Doughnut)Fish (Symbol of Good Luck)
Germany (Herring & Carp)
Poland (Pickled Herring)
Denmark (Boiled Cod)
Italy (Dried Salted Cod)
Japan (Red Snapper – Pink is a lucky color)
Vietnam (Carp)
China
Sweden (Seafood Salad)A Happy, Lucky and Prosperous New Year to All of You!
Mama Lisa
Many thanks to Ed Gawlinski for pointing out that they eat lentils in Italy for the New Year, which lead me on this long quest that resulted in this discussion!
Can Anyone Help with a Folk Song from India called “Baariye Bubly”?
Monday, November 19th, 2007Barb wrote:
I am looking for lyrics to a song from India called Baariye Bubly. Do you know this folksong? I learned it is about a little girl and a monkey.
Thank you for your wonderful resources.
Barb Rehmeyer
I think Baariye Bubly is called Bubly and the Monkey in English. If anyone can help with the original lyrics and/or an English translation, please comment below.
Thanks in advance!
-Lisa
Can Someone Help with the Tune to the Hindi Song “”Tick Tick Tick”"?
Friday, September 28th, 2007Veronica wrote:
Hi Lisa,
I am a musician living in the middle of a field in the North of England! Amongst other things, I do lots of World music/dance/instrument sessions with people of all ages.One of these is an Asian Day where, up to now, I’ve included a difficult but possible song in Hindi (Mandi dialect).
I’ve just looked at your website for the 1st time and was delighted to find your Indian children’s songs – particularly as all my Asian friends reckon that generally kids sing adult folk songs rather than nursery rhymes. I love the Tick, Tick, Tick specially as I’ll soon be working with 3 to 5 year olds and it is so suitable (and would lead to brilliant discussion on whether Indian sparrows sound like English ones!) but… I need the tune… how/where can I find it? I’d be really grateful if you could help.
Veronica (Perrin)
We have the song lyrics to Tick Tick Tick in Hindi and with an English translation – you can click the link to see them. Unfortunately, we don’t know the tune. If anyone can send us the tune in midi or mp3 format, that would be great! It can be a midi tune – or you could sing it for us so we can hear how you sing it – or even play it on an instrument. Please email me if you can help out.
Thanks in advance (a lot)!
- Mama Lisa
Can Anyone Help with a Translation of a Tamil Song?
Wednesday, July 25th, 2007I received this Tamil song from India without an English translation:
TAMIL
kaakka kannukku mai kondu vaa
kuruvi kondaikku poo kondu vaa
kokkae kuzhandhaikku paal kondu vaa
kizhiyae kuzhandhaikku thaen kondu vaaIf anyone can provide an English translation that would be wonderful! Please comment below or email me.
Thanks in advance!
Lisa
How to Find Sheet Music, Tunes and MP3’s on Mama Lisa’s World
Saturday, January 6th, 2007In addition to this blog, I also host Mama Lisa’s World. Mama Lisa’s World is a large collection of children’s songs and rhymes from countries all around the globe.
Matt, a music teacher from Rhode Island, wrote a question to me, the other day, about Mama Lisa’s World:
Hey Mama,
I love the concept of your site. It’s been exciting to watch it grow. My only frustration is not being able to find either written (preferably) or audio music to accompany the lyrics. How do I find the tunes for all these great lyrics?
Matt
Music Teacher, Rhode Island, USAHere’s what I wrote back, I’m sharing it with you, in case it helps you too…
Hey Matt,
Thanks for writing!
We’ve just added basic sheet music to a lot of songs on the Germany, France, Hungary, Spain and Mexico pages – plus many others.
We’re now in the process of converting the whole site to a database. We’re halfway through. Hopefully by the summer we’ll have a feature that will let you do a search on songs that have sheet music, midis or mp3’s. Midis play the tune of a song. MP3’s are recordings – usually of someone singing the song.
But for now, the songs on the countries that are in the database are working on a simple system. On the country pages they have symbols next to the song if they have special features. Here’s the key…
KEY TO SYMBOLS
– this song has sheet music
Midi – this song has a Midi tune
MP3 – this song has an MP3 recording
– this song has a Video recording
If there’s anything in particular you’re looking for, you’re welcome to ask – in case I know if we have it or not – I may be able to guide you to the right place to find what you’re looking for.
And, of course, we’re always looking for more sheet music, midi’s and mp3’s, so if you’d like to contribute any from your culture, we’d be thrilled!
I hope this helps!
Mama Lisa
Mama Lisa’s World News and Multimedia Features
Thursday, November 30th, 2006A significant part of the Mama Lisa sites is a large collection of songs and nursery rhymes from around the world. We currently have about 750 songs from around 90 countries and cultures.
When you consider how many languages there are in those cultures – that’s a lot of information! In order to make it easier to access all of the songs, we are in the process of converting the sites to a database. The database allow our visitors to search for songs on the site by language, by songs with sheet music, recordings, etc.
While we’re putting the songs into the database, we’re trying to obtain as much information as possible about each song. So if we can find the tune, we’ll include a midi tune and sheet music. If we find a recording of the song on the internet, we’ll provide a link to the recording. Sometimes we’ll make a recording ourselves. Anything we can do to help you know everything possible about that song.
If you happen to see any songs on the site that are missing a tune or recording and you know it, we’d be very pleased if you could help us get the tune. We’re able to make midis from sheet music, if that’s what you can send. We’re also happy to post recordings if you’d like to sing the song, play it on an instrument, or even hum it. Really, anything to help others get an idea how to sing or play the song.
Once the database is complete Mama Lisa’s World will have 98 countries and cultures and over 850 songs. How great is that!
-Lisa
UPDATE: The Database is now complete! We have 100 countries and cultures. We’re now working on a Spanish version of Mama Lisa’s World which will feature children’s songs, folks songs and nursery rhymes from around the world with Spanish translations.
A Hindi Children’s Song with an English Translation
Tuesday, March 14th, 2006Tomorrow is the Colorful Hindu Holiday called Holi that’s celebrated in India. I thought, for the occasion, I would share with you this new Hindi song I recently received…
Ek kawwa pyasathaa
(Hindi)Ek kawwa pyasathaa
jugmay thOdaa paaneethaa
kawwa laayaa pathar
paani aayaa oopar
kawwaa peeyaapaani
Hogaya kahaaniThere Was a Thristy Crow
(English)There was a thirsty crow
A jug has a little water
Crow brought pebbles
Raised up the water
Crow drank the water
End of the story.Many thanks to G.Kavitha for sending me this song and for translating it into English!
-Lisa
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World India Page for more Songs from India.
Holi – A Celebration of Spring and Color in India
Saturday, March 11th, 2006Holi is celebrated every year on the night of the full moon that comes in late February or early March and also on the day after the full moon. This year it will be celebrated on March 15-16th.
Holi is a celebration of the beginning of spring and the first harvest of the year.
The Origin of Holi
There are different legends behind the origin of Holi. The most well-known is about the triumph of good over evil.
The story is that in ancient India there was an evil demon king called Hiranykashipu, who wanted everyone to worship him instead of the supreme Hindu god Vishnu. He declared that no one was to worship Vishnu and that if they did, they would be killed. However, the demon king’s son, Prince Prahlad, continued to worship Vishnu. The demon king warned him that if he did not stop he would be killed, but Prahlad continued anyway. The demon king tried to kill him but failed. He tried poisoning him and he tried to have him trampled by elephants, but his son survived. Finally the demon king asked his sister Holika for help. Holika thought she was immune to fire so she took her nephew Prahlad into a big fire. Much to everyone’s surprise, Holika was burnt to death and Prahlad was unharmed.
The name of the holiday Holi comes from the defeat of Holika.
Nowadays, huge bonfires are lit on the night of the full moon of Holi. The fires are supposed to burn away the evil spirits. The bonfires also symbolize the coming warmth of Springtime.
Spraying Village Girls with Colored Powder and Water
To understand the next part of Holi’s traditions, it’s important to know a little about Hindu avatars. In Hinduism avatars are earthly manifestations or reincarnations of the God Vishnu. Krishna is one of the avatars of Vishnu.
Krishna literally means “dark” or “black”. He is called “the dark one” because of his dark complexion. He is also known to be a prankster.
The legend is that Krishna would spray the village girls with colored powder and water. At first they were annoyed at him, but they liked him so much that eventually it became a game and all the boys of the town joined in.
Today in India on Holi you’ll see colored powder in the air. Sometimes it’s mixed with water and everything turns into a rainbow of color.
Krishna and Radha
Many of the village girls were called Gopis which are cowherd girls. Krishna fell in love with one of the Gopis whose name was Radha.
One day Krishna asked his mother why he had such dark skin while Radha was so fair. His mother said to him, why don’t you smear her with color so that she can be any color you want. So he did!
People in India still smear each other with color on Holi. There’s an element of courtship behind this ritual echoing the love between Krishna and Radha. Thus, Holi is also a celebration of the love that comes in the springtime.
Holi is a great festival of color in which there is much dancing, singing and rejoicing. What a happy time it is when spring is in the air!
Happy Holi!
Lisa
Many thanks to G.Kavitha for helping me learn about the tradition of Holi in India.
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World India Page for Songs from India.
JUST POSTED: A Hindi Children’s Song!
“Chipmunk, Chipmunk, Come, Come, Come”
Friday, January 13th, 2006
– A Song in Tamil from India with an MP3 RecordingAnile Anile Vaa Vaa Vaa (Chipmunk, Chipmunk, Come, Come, Come) is a song from India, in the Tamil language, which is spoken in the southern part of India. Here is the song in the original Tamil, with an English translation, and an mp3 recording.
MP3 of Anile Anile Vaa Vaa Vaa
Anile Anile Vaa Vaa Vaa
(Tamil)Anile Anile vaa vaa vaa
Azhagiya Anile vaa vaa vaa
Goiyya maram yeri vaa
Gundu pazham kondu vaaHere’s an English translation of Anile Anile Vaa Vaa Vaa…
Chipmunk, Chipmunk, Come, Come, Come
(English)Chipmunk chipmunk come come come
Beautiful chipmunk come come come
Climb high up a guava tree
Bring a ripe fruit back to me.Many thanks to the Kidambi Family for contributing this song, and to Gayatri Sriram, a carnatic singer, for singing it!
Rumba nandri!
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World India page to hear more Songs from India.
Children’s Day in India – Celebrated on November 14th
Sunday, November 13th, 2005The history of Children’s Day in India, plus a Rhyme called My Cousin Monkey Goes to Wed, with an MP3 Recording
Jawaharlal Nehru was born on November 14, 1889. He was the first prime minister of India, after his country gained independence from Britain.
He was extremely outspoken about the importance of children for the future of India. He loved roses and felt that people needed to cultivate children just like roses. And that, above all else, children should be nurtured. Children affectionately called him “Chacha”!
He felt that girls should be given the same opportunities as boys. We can see just how well he put this into practice by viewing the life of his own daughter Indira: she eventually went on the become the third prime minister of India!
His love of children was so well known throughout India, that his birthday was made into a national holiday, “Children’s Day”.
Children’s Day is celebrated mainly in schools and colleges. There’s dancing and singing and contests, and sometimes teachers put on fun performances for their students and give them sweets.
Perhaps best of all for kids is that they’re excused if they don’t do their homework!
I couldn’t find any songs that are specific to Children’s Day, but here’s a fun rhyme from India. It’s called My Cousin Monkey Goes to Wed and it’s in the Telugu language, with an English translation below it, and an mp3 recording…
Koti Baavaku Pellanta
(Telugu)Koti baavaku pellanta
Kondaa konaa vididi anta
Kukka nakkala vindu anta
Enugu vaddana cheyunu anta
Elugu vintha choochunu anta
Kodi, kokila, kaakamma
Koti pelliki paata antaMy Cousin Monkey Goes to Wed
(English)My cousin monkey goes to wed
Hill and dale are well bedecked
Dog and fox have come to dine
Trumpeting elephant’s serving fine
Bear has come to watch the fun
Cock and crow and cuckoo sing
My cousin monkey’s wedding songMP3 of My Cousin Monkey Goes to Wed – Koti Baavaku Pellanta
Many thanks to Midhun for reciting this rhyme and to Dr. Srinivas Gummaraju for sending it to me with the English translation. Dhanyavaadaalu!
Come visit The Mama Lisa’s World India Page for more Children’s Songs from India.
If anyone would like to send me a song that specific to Children’s Day or any other kids songs from India, please comment below.
Thanks! Lisa
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