#BENGALI KIDS SONGS

[zeherili-ankhein]

Ok everyone is like "my parents after watching Baghban this" "my parents after watching Baghban that"

HAVE YOU TRIED BRIDDHASRAM BY NACHIKETA?!?!?

That shit scares me so much. The constant fear that rises when my mom is listening to that 💀

[gayshitinfinite]

for the ask game.... 3, 4, 10 and 13 <3

(for me it's 3. tvpm, 4. tamil, 10. would love to be born in italy/france, 13. the handmaiden and eeaao)

❤️❤️❤️.

3. favourite Indian city?

pondicherry. ik it's not a city but I'm adjusting the question.

4. A Indian language you don't speak but would like to learn?

Tamil and kannada and Bengali too

10. If you weren't born in desi countries which country would have been born in?

idk somewhere with better queer rights.

why Italy and France for you?

13. favourite film from any language

Ohm Shanti Oshana(Malayalam), 3 idiots (Tamil), anandham(Malayalam)

[munadrawson]

🏍🦑🐙⚠ Click and Open image for HQ! [Commission OPEN] | [Cheap-bi Commission OPEN] | [Ko-fi] | [Twitter] | [Instagram]

As a desi, I've got to reference one of the best desi movie songs from a blockbuster film: "Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge" Sholay (1975), and as a queer desi, it's the classic take on "Living the crime life and being gay af with your pardner." The chaotic energy.

This song was sung by two legendary Bengali idols, Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey. I kid you not; their voices fit perfectly well for these two. A beautifully dynamic voice paired with a softly sweet voice; I can't stop seeing it.

Although I don't speak Hindi (I speak Bangla), I did my best translating the chorus and a verse of the song and have it flow better in English. The entire song is pretty gender-neutral. I swear, the number of desi songs that sing about being romantically interested in a friend and/or referring to their romantic partner as a friend is longer than a laundry list. Also, I saw a cishet cover this song romantically. If they can do it, so can I. Checkmate.

BONUS:

My sis insisted that I must draw this scene, and I delivered.

At least they got them to laugh.

[hood-ex]

This got long so I decided to send it in an ask.

So India has like a dozen film industries organized by language. Bollywood is the biggest and that's Hindi. There are also movies n Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam, Marathi, Kannada, Bengali, Punjabi and more. I won't go into all of them because I mostly watch movies in Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi and the occasional Telegu movie.

(super cool thing is that sometimes, there's actors who work in multiple film industries so it can be like a fun surprise when you see someone you associate with a specific language pop up somewhere else)

I tried to pick based on what you said you liked in one of the other replies. You mentioned you like musicals though so you'll be happy to know that songs are integral to Indian movies. Also these recs are a mix of personal favorites and ones I know to be popular/iconic because if it was just up to me, half of these would be thrillers, horror or crime because I think indian films do those genres really well. They also lean heavily towards romcoms.

Hindi:

Sholay (1975) This is just a classic Hindi action movie starring Amitabh Bachchan, who's possibly the biggest actor from Bollywood in the 70s and 80s Like even i've watched it and I haven't even taken the time to look through 70s Hindi movies yet.

Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993) A runaway bride gets taken in by three kids and they have to hide her so their uncle who's taking care of them doesn't kick her out. The kids are so goddamn cute. This stars two very known 90s stars, Amir Khan and Juhi Chawla.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) Iconic Hindi romance starring equally iconic pair of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. Shah Rukh is by far the most popular beloved actor in Bollwood since the 90s and arguably still today. Him and Kajol were a big pair that did tons of movies together in the 90s and early 2000s. I cannot understate how popular these two are.

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) Another, arguably even more iconic Shah Rukh Kajol romance but it's a love triangle. Personally, I can't stand this movie but it's super duper popular and also features the love of my life, Rani Mukherjee as the 'it' girl Tina that Shah Rukh's character initially falls in love with.

Kabhie Kushi Kabhie Gham (2001) I'm sorry, I don't know how this ended up being all Shah Rukh Kajol movies but I needed to mention it because this is my personal favorite from this pair and in general. I also love the way this leans into the 2000s aesthetic in the second half and you're going to be baffled and amused by the character Pooja in the second half.

Devdas (2002) Devdas is an epic tragic love triangle featuring again Shah Rukh Khan but also Aishwarya Rai, one of the most influential celebrities to come out of India in the modern age and Madhuri Dixit, beloved actress and dancer from the late 80s/early 90s. The song 'Dola Re' from this movie is one of the coolest dance sequences to exist.

Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) A modern love triangle- you know, I didn't realize how many love triangles are on here but this one will make you cry. It's a romcom but I promise, the tears will come. And then you'll watch it again.

Om Shanti Om (2007) A love letter to Golden Age Bollywood, this movie is going to pack in approximately 15 references per minute, you won't understand any of them and it will still be an excellent time. At heart, this is a fantasy romance/revenge featuring reincarnation (which is a suuuper popular trope but ended up being sparse on this list). Starring Shah Rukh Khan across Deepika Padukone in her first role (they go on to be a pretty beloved pair though not as much as srk and kajol). I rewatch this 1-2 times a year.

Jodhaa Akbar (2008) Starring Aishwarya Rai again, this is a historical romantic drama set in the 1500s. I always get distracted by how beautiful the costuming in this is. You'll recognize Hrithik Roshan from Kabhie Kushi Kabhie Gham but with the ugliest mustache known to mankind.

3 Idiots (2009) is a comedy/coming-of-age about 3 college friends. Sounds basic but it's really hmm, heartfelt? Starring Amir Khan.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) coming of age romance/drama/comedy something about a group of college friends. Stars Deepika Padukone across Ranbir Kapoor (big 2010s actor).

Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavadahn (2020) first big blockbuster type movie about queer people. It made me cry, i made a gif from this my header for like over a year, it's a bit cliche but yk

Telegu

Telegu's really hit it off in the last 10 years or so but I've only a passing familiarity and I definitely can't tell you what's been popular in the last couple decades. BUT

Bahubali 1 and 2 (2015/2017) It was a cultural phenomenon when it came out, because of the effects and cinematography but also largely because of how it's one story split intentionally into two movies. That concept was unheard of in Indian film and the overwhelming success of Bahubali is directly responsible for the dozens of 2 and 3 part film series being produced today in south indian films. It's like an epic fantasy action movie(s) about- actually i'm not going to spoil the plot on this one. In simplest terms, it's about a guy learning about his dad.

RRR (2022) Not a personal favorite but it actually has a tumblr fanbase. Bromance but like two indian revolutionaries fighting against the british in pre-independence India. Really, it's very much about their friendship. Stars Jr NTR and Ram Charan, both of whom are pretty popular Telegu actors. This like Bahubali was an insanely popular hit.

Tamil (this was so hard because i like tamil movies but i don't think they're the greatest. They do however have the best love songs, hands down)

Kadhalan (1994) It's an action romance ft politics and terrorists but at heart, it's a inter-class romance about a college kid that falls in love with a politician's daughter. You may have noted by now that inter-class romances are a BIG theme in indian movies. This stars Prabhu who is still an iconic choreographer and dancer and Nagma.

Minsara Kanavu (1997) a romance Prabhu again and Kajol from all of those Hindi films. The plot is that she doesn't believe in love and wants to go become a nun and he's trying to change her mind because he's in love with her. It would've been so easy to get this film wrong but it ends up being really hard to dislike.

Anbe Sivam (2003) a slice of life about a guy who gets stranded at an airport and makes a friend. R. Madhavan, who plays the friend is the poster boy for 90s Tamil romances and is an excellent romance actor, if you're interested.

Ghilli (2004) A sports player accidentally gets involved with a gang. It's like an action romance featuring some of the most iconic actors in Tamil film, including Vijay and Trisha. I had my cousins dance to one of the songs from this at my wedding. This movie actually just reran in theaters for it's 20 year anniversary a couple months ago.

24 (2016) A guy invents a time traveling machine. I really wanted to include a movie with Suriya because he along with Vijay are like the two big stars of the Tamil Film Industry. They both have catalogs of 60+ films. And in this movie, Suriya plays a triple role.

Malayalam. This one's my native industry which somehow made it really hard to pick movies from because I mostly watch masala films or (like low-brow action comedies).

Kireedam (1989) A action/drama about a guy's downfall. Thematically, think Othello. Stars Mohanlal, the biggest actor in Mollywood and watching him in this movie will show you why.

Killukam (1991) a comedy about a girl, an illegitimate daughter of a supreme court judge, pretending to be mentally ill while searching for her father. Very of it's time but it's classic comedy. Stars Mohanlal again.

Yoddha (1992). One of the rare times that Malayalam film delves into fantasy, this is a movie about a young rural guy protecting a Nepalese kid from a murderous, supernatural cult. It's been a minute since i've watched this so I can't speak to how the cultural aspects were treated but I remember that part of this was shot in Nepal. It's also considered a cult classic. And features Mohanlal yet again.

Aaram Thampuran (1997) Another mohanlal film about a man who gets involved in a village's affairs. Stars Manju Warrior who was a known 90s actress before she got married and quit. This one's an iconic action film but I think that Mohanlal's role in this is like the template of classic Malayalam hero and says a lot about the qualities that make up a South Indian typical movie 'good guy'.

Nandanam (2002) The fact that this movie is this old makes me feel old. A slightly dramatic, mostly realistic interclass romance ft (1) god. It'll give you a fair bit of insight into Malayali culture and class prejudices. Anyway story's about a religious house-servant who falls in love with the grandson of her employer. Or really, the grandson falls in love with her. It's a personal favorite of mine and stars Navya Nair (who is soo underrated) and Prithviraj (who is not, which is to say he's hella popular and currently trying his hand at directing)

Meesa Madhavan (2002) A thief gets wrongfully accused of a crime and tries to prove his innocence ft a romance. It's classic 2000s Malayalam comedy. Features Dileep and Kavya Madhavan who were a pretty popular pair of the 2000s/2010s even and irl had an affair and he divorced his wife for her. (his wife incidentally is manju warrior who i mentioned above)

Classmates (2006) A school reunion unearths old hurts and hidden secrets. It's got everything; mystery, angst, romance, comedy, and an iconic soundtrack.

Notebook (2006) No this has nothing to do with the iconic Nicholas Sparks adaptation. It's about three college friends at an all-girls school and how they deal with one of them getting pregnant. The initial romance is SO cute. The song, one in particular is great. The execution is so-so but for a movie about teen pregnancy in 2006 Kerala, it's not bad. And I would consider it iconic.

****** manichitrathazhu (1993) It's about a couple who move into a new house and the wife gets possessed by a ghost. It's ICONIC. I didn't mention it above because it does dip into horror and you said you didn't like scary movies.

i know this might seem super large and overwhelming. I promise I did try to limit the choices a bit and was at times more or less successful. Anyways I hope it helps some.

Wow, thank you for the explanation and for the long list of recs! Love all the different language categories. Lol! I wish I liked horror movies more, especially so you could share your favs 😆. I might try Manichitrathazhu 🫣. Maybe my friend who loves horror movies will watch it with me.

I'm looking at some of these on Google, and omg, Kabhie Kushi Kabhie Gham is 3.5 hours long 😳. I'll have to settle in with a snack for that one 😆.

These all sound really good though! Thank you for taking the time to compile this list, I highly appreciate it!

[cult-of-the-eye]

...some more desi!jon and martin hcs? for the soul?

Hello!!! Sorry for taking so long to answer, I needed to get into the right headspace lol

You know how it's a desi custom to like feed each other cake on birthdays? You do it with your loved ones especially so I'm imagining it's Jon's birthday and Tim insists on feeding him cake and he begrudgingly agrees then suddenly everyones feeding him cake and laughing and feeding everyone else and Martin really shouldn't feel like it's so intimate (indirect kisses as such) but it's a bonding moment for the whole archives crew

Jon is like insanely good at rangoli patterns, his grandma put him to work every festival season and it kept his hands busy for hours on end, building spiral patterns with vibrant powders. He lost some of it over the years, but in the Scottish Safehouse, he makes smaller patterns across the entrance almost as a sigil against everything they were being hunted by

Martin has a pretty good Bengali accent and is fluent, his mum refused to speak anything other than Bangla so he's kept it up all these years and gotten quite good at it to the point where he's sometimes mistaken for a native speaker

Jon has an atrocious accent and can just about get by in Hindi, he had been sat down by his grandma to try and teach him a couple of times over his childhood but he never could concentrate for long enough, his grandma shouted too much for his liking and he was a gifted kid so if he didn't get it immediately, he wouldn't do it at all

Jon's favourite Bollywood actor is Irrfan Khan cause he thinks he's super impactful and he loved him in Piku (but he grew up watching mostly old black and white Bangla movies directed by satyajit Roy like Pather Panchali)

Martin's favourite has to be SRK cause he's a classic and he grew up watching him and whenever he's sad he watches Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or Chennai Express

They both adore 3 Idiots though, like they were both screwed over by the education system in different ways (Martin struggled with juggling school and caring for his mum so he ended up dropping out, Jon and his burned out gifted kid vibes), they understand the pressure to get a certain level of educated and a certain type of profession (they would've gotten it from judgemental relatives lol like you couldve used your intelligence to become an engineer and instead you work for a falthu place) and they definitely understand the mental health issues and the friendship between the guys reminds them of their own friendships over the years

Also that song "give me some sunshine, give me some rain" like one day Martin's humming it and Jon's like is that???? and then Martin starts singing it and they do a little duet (martin was classically trained in rabindra Sangeet so he has a smooth velvety voice and jons is decent) and then it can become a super angsty call back in MAG 200

That's all I got!! Thanks for the ask!!

[pixiedust111]

So, I finally watched Disney's "Wish". Here's my review on it:

Positive aspects —

1. I loved Asha's appearance and her name. She does have very pretty hair; whenever it was blowing in the wind, it gave me a feeling of some sort of refreshment (and reminded me of Pocahontas' hair). And her name? Well, it means "hope" in Bengali (my mother tongue) . I don't know where the name used in the movie originated from, but if it really means "hope", that makes it really meaningful and significant for the main protagonist. By the way, "Asha" is written as "আশা" in Bengali!

2. Movie setting: This movie was set around Mediterranean sea which was a delight to watch since it is enriched with a plenty of cultural variations.

3. Art style: The art style was real beautiful; I loved their using of vibrant colors and watercolor painting effects. If you've been following me for a long time, you may have already guessed that I am a huge fan of using vibrant colors (just like Rapunzel)!

4. Song: I wrote "song", 'cause I only enjoyed one song from it which is "This wish".

Negative aspects:

1. The story was pretty mediocre. Although they started it with a great potential, they messed at wrapping it up.

2. Story arcs of both the heroin and the villain were terribly weak. It felt like they themselves weren't even sure WHAT were they doing, WHY were they doing. It felt, somehow 'forced' for the sake of dragging their poor story to a conclusion.

3. Poor execution of easter eggs. I mean, seriously? If the entire plot was about making one's wishes all by oneself then what's the point of giving Asha the magic wand at the end? Just to reminisce Cinderella's fairy godmother? But didn't it ruin the actual story?

4. Bad jokes: I guess this movie's target audience were three years old kids, otherwise why all the comic reliefs felt so cliched and forced?

To wrap it up, it was a pretty mediocre movie. I enjoy every other movies of Disney's modern era from "Tangled" to "Strange World" (it was not that bad, to be honest). I enjoyed "Raya and the last dragon", it broke me emotionally with it's father-daughter storyline (just like Pixar's "Onwards" with Father-son storyline). I enjoyed Pixar's "Elemental", and "Turning Red". These movies represented asian cultures accurately, I watched them multiple times.

But, in case of Wish, I couldn't relate to the characters, I couldn't enjoy the story. It was indeed a very forgettable movie.

[that-mad-indian-woman]

I haath been sent from beyond to enquire as to what you actually do on Mahalaya...

(Definitely not a bangali wanting you to infodump)

So before I go into what I MYSELF do in mahalaya, I will pretext it by giving some context into what mahalaya actually is.

So. What is mahalaya?

Mahalaya is typically known as the beginning of devipaksha. These "pakshas" Are usually demarcated by the movements of the moon. One fortnight from one full moon to the next is one "paksha". This one is particularly known as " Devipaksha " Because the Mythological story goes as follows(which we grew up listening to from our grandpas)

So when the earth was created, it was believed to be a huge great sea and Vishnu laid at its depths, deep in sleep. Then from his earlobe emerged two demons, madhu and kaitav who wreaked havoc on earth. Lord brahma emerged from vishnu's navel and pleaded the Lord to wake and destroy the evils. After months of meditation, vishnu woke finally. What followed was a war over 5000 years and at the end, when vishnu was exhausted and the demons still remained, he pleaded to Goddess Adishakti who emerged and charmed the demons with her beauty. Vishnu took the chance and killed the demons. Mahalaya is believed to be the day The devi helped in this destruction of evil, so the following fourteen days are said to be "Devi" Paksha.

Now, there's another side of this story. To us bengalis, mahalaya is also believed to be the time devi parvati comes back to her father's house with all her children. Parvati is considered as "barir meye" (Daughter of the house) by almost all bengalis, so pujo is technically a celebration of parvati's homecoming.

To the general kolkata-citizens however; mahalaya implies pujos are close, so celebrations and planning have to be started soon;)

SO, WHAT DO PEOPLE DO IN MAHALAYA?

If one fine day in october, you see your bengali friend wake up at 4am and go up to the terrace; check the dates. Cause it might be mahalaya.

To be completely honest here, not much happens on mahalaya. But it's the time when the clouds are clear, the sun is red in the horizon and Our own daughter is coming back home. Which is why the traditional way of celebrating mahalaya iss waking up when there are still twinkling stars in the sky and watch sunrise. this is usually followed by listening to agomoni songs (agomon=arrival in bengali) and mahalaya recited by one legendary man. We have all listened to the exact same version of mahalaya over the years. My grandpa listened to it as a kid, my father listened to it as a kid, and i myself listen to it every year now. It's mahalaya recited by birendra kishore bhodro. There's a certain spirituality in listening to the fables of destruction of evil by a supreme power while watching the red sun lick the skies and the morning light come to being. for any of you interested, here's the link:

Anyway, there are also TV shows during mahalaya, that show the stories behind the various forms of durga that is worshipped all over bengal in sort of a theatrical manner. As far as i remember, there are 108 forms, all of the same goddess, banishing different evils.

To sum it up, mahalaya for us(or atleast me) is a day to get slightly in contact with the spiritual side of the pujos that follow. Because in the hocus-pocus of all the fun and plans that usually signify pujo, it's usually extremely easy to lose track of what it is actually all about-the victory of good over evil, and ceelbrating women-power through femininity.

@vellibandi @pinkpdf @dhuup

[dove-da-birb]

Meet Prem Bashar

The Picrew used was TOON ME! &lt;<A>> by @/hellosunnycore.

Name; Prem Bashar

Other names; Just Prem

Birthday; August 31 (Virgo)

Age; 16

Height; 170 cm

Dominant hand; Right

Gender; Cis male

Pronouns; He/Him

Sexuality; Grey-ace

Romantic Orientation; Biromantic

Hobbies; Playing the keyboard

Pet Peeve; Loud chewing sounds

Favourite Food; Fuchka

Least Favourite Food; Pickled mango 

Talent; Memorizing sheet music [mixture of classical & cursed]

Languages; English, Bengali

MBTI; ISFP

Other; ADD, braces

Best Subject; Music

Club; Light Music Club

Secondary Dorm; Heartslabyul (if he had magic)

Friends; Cater, Kalim, Lilia, Silver

Other Information~

The "Yuu" for Savanaclaw's chapter.

Prem was STRESSED when Yusra went missing, he is super protective of his older sister so yeah, he isn't happy when he finds out he was switched for her. He at first tries to stay at a distance with others, but Cater catches wind that he can play the keyboard and he's roped into Light Music Club. Much like his sister, he adapts quickly, but is still peeved about the situation.

Unlike Yusra, he is not a fan of spiders. Listen, he found a massive one living in his favourite house slippers so YES he can be scared of them. Also Bengali-Australian, but yeah, big ass spiders are a no-no for him. He does sometimes doubt his abilities but pushes forward. If Yusra was able to survive in this weird Disney dimension, so can he!

If he were sorted into a proper dorm, the mirror would have placed him in Heartslabyul; he follows his own morals very tightly and won't compromise them. This really comes out when he's trying to get down a song on the keyboard, as he wants it to be perfect; even if it is a meme song. Tried playing Lilia's bagpipes once and likes to use it as a leveraging piece against Ace.

He also has a kalimba, basically a handheld piano, that he likes to play in between classes. He actually meet Lilia this way, as Silver had fallen asleep behind the tree where he was practicing. He does enjoy hanging out with his extroverted friends, but he needs to get away from the chaos, and Silver doesn't push him to talk. They often just sit in silence as Prem plays his kalimba.

He CANNOT stand loud chewing sounds; got the classic misophonia. His eye twitches and he has to leave the room. Will throw food at Ace if he decides to do it on purpose. He often wears a blue pearl pin that matches Yusra's hijab pin. His personal style is very casual, he doesn't really have any staple colours that he gravitates towards though. He doesn't wear bands in his braces but thinks the bright-coloured ones are cute.

Also likes cats, and his favourite movie as a kid was The Aristocats, hence why the two family cats are named Berlioz and Toulouse. Also likes to hang behind in Trein's class due to Lucius, but also to ask the professor about how Yusra was doing when she got stuck here. He doesn't have a strong opinion about Crowley.

Bonus fits!

[iqmmir]

greetings gorgeous many heart emojis, strawberry + cardinal + blood + maroon + ruby for the ask game❔

strawberry: what album would you love to have on vinyl? — namae dake demo oboetette kudasai because i love narumi mona soooo much everyone should know

cardinal: what is the first song that made you cry? — i can't remember, but it was probably coffee house or se amar choto bon by manna dey, sorry i didn't listen to a single song in a language that isnt bengali or hindi till i was ten so

blood: which of your family members is your favourite? — mikukitty and my brother 🩷

maroon: what role do you play in your group of friends? — 'umm they asked for no pickles'

ruby: favourite pre-2000 song? — SO MANY... umm hotel california and last resort and new kid in town and brick in the wall and summer of 69' and o saathi re and eleanor rigby and prison trilogy and so many more actually, i just can't remember right now

[rudyrupakus]

Rudy Rupak- Professional Musician

Rudy Rupak has always been a keen music fan for the longest time but he hid his desire to be a musician due to his strict parents discouraging him from doing so. Now in his mid 50s, he is not a bit concerned about the optics of starting a band at such a later stage in life. His band, The BabaKool Collective, represent various music, genres and styles and languages as Rudy composes music in English, Bengali, Hindi and most recently Farsi as well. Some of his songs are original compositions such as the (And I Kid You Not) new age rock song LET THEM. Most of his songs are covers of existing hits redone in a different language.

[yaksha-garden]

😮 !!

it's HIM O CLOCK

This is Vayu Chandra Das (he/him), Eden's boyfriend/later husband. They met in his dreams and conspired to rescue him from a cannibal who was slowly cutting him up for parts. It ended with him burning her house down, as is his right. And then they got separated by circumstances outside of their control, fate (derogatory). But then they found each other again after many years!

Vayu is a very gentle, soft-spoken person. Started off as a scared, skittish, pushover of a 19 year old, in the current day he's a mid 30s man and still quiet and gentle and kind and whatnot, but he also gives far less fucks and takes less shit (though he's still remarkably patient, but there's a difference between that and being a pushover). He's always been a resilient, determined little thing, I think what changed is that he became more aware of that. He does still struggle with self loathing and overextending himself for his loved ones, though.

Also his insides have embers in em.

Probably gonna be the most common NPC/"Guest Muse" on this blog, because he's very very important to Eden.

Some additional Vayu Facts

He's a trans man!

Grew up playing classic DOOM, and still plays the first two games over and over again. It's his very favourite hobby.

Currently works as a line cook, and learned to hunt during his time in Kubera's Prism. He'll hunt and cook meat, but he himself is a vegetarian. He tells people he's not familiar with that this is for religious reasons, but it's actually for trauma reasons. He's a Hindu for the record, but he and his family (Bengali Hindus, mostly) were actually not vegetarian before all this.

Before he reunited with Eden, he adopted a kid, Niraja Hiran Das (another NPC - maybe I'll introduce her next?)

Cooking and quality time as a love language.

He learned how to play the guitar in high school to impress a girl he had a crush on and also he really wanted to figure out how to play some of Tool's songs. Said girl rejected him in a very thoughtlessly cruel (but very 2000s-bigoted) way unfortunately. But Eden admires his guitar playing nowadays, so I guess it paid off in the end?

and many more. please ask eden (ic) or me (ooc) about vayu whenever you want.

bonus image under the cut

and it'ssssss

vayu carrying eden!

[luigisvampirebae]

Today's my birthday and I got some stuff on my mind

Ash and Pikachu retiring as the lead characters of the Pokémon anime is not the news I wanted to hear on my birthday like WHY CAN'T Y'ALL WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW TO TELL ME?

The Beauty and the Beast 30th anniversary got me in my feelings so much. I loved the 1991 film growing up, the 2017 version was alright, but OMG H.E.R. as Belle! As a fellow Blasian (I'm Afro-Indigenous on my dad's side and Bengali through my mom), this means a lot to me since all I got as a kid were Jasmine and Tiana (no shade to them, they're cool). Also, the tribute to Angela Lansbury was beautiful. I had always seen Mrs. Potts as a mother figure and I feel that even with her own spin, Shania Twain did the song justice ❤️

Mickey's cool but Oswald is better. I'm happy he's back.

Did the Beauty and the Beast special have me imagining myself as Belle and Jack Russell as the Beast? Yes. Also, for some reason Ernesto de la Cruz is Gaston? HUH?? WHY DOES THAT WORK??? WHAT IN THE MULTIVERSE IS GOING ON????

[an-asuryampasya]

tag game!

(that I'm doing only about a month late- yike) Tagged by @ghostboyjules! Thanks for tagging me! :D

Nickname: Ash! Unless you're my dad, in which case it's "[random affectionate adjective]+[random synonym for kid]" (except in Telugu)

Sign: Capricorn :]

Height: Uhhh, honestly don't remember. 5' something?

Last thing I googled: well, I use duckduckgo but it was something about the nivi drape.

I adore textile history (my interest is primarily corset-centric, but I'm trying to expand that), and since it came up, have a light infodump!

The ubiquitous sari style that pops up when you look up saris is the 'nivi' draping style. What's fascinating is that sari styles used to vary a great deal between regions and communities - everything differed, like the length of the sari, how it was draped, and what else was worn with it (side note: the blouses and petticoats that are SO essential to the modern sari only became popular after contact with European cultures and the new ideals of propriety that came with it. relatively pretty recent!).

So, y'know, there's an incredibly wide range of styles of wearing a sari (over 108 draping styles were documented by a historian in 2010, and of course there'd also be styles that cropped up and died out in the centuries before. And again, this was just draping styles, not variations in weaving, dyeing, patterns, etc. which exist too - though that's tangential to my point here. But basically, there's SO much that can be done with the single piece of cloth that the sari is! And saris are still evolving.)

Ah, but then skip to me in today's generation - someone grew up surrounded by sari-wearers my entire life. And yet I still genuinely figured the nivi style was the One Way to wear a sari for a very long time.

That's because in the second half of the nineteenth century, the nivi draping style became REALLY popular across regions. Most sources ascribe this to the nivi style being perceived as a "modern" style that was acceptable to both, colonial Indian and British sensiblities. It became SO popular, it overrode other regional styles in most places (there are still some places with other draping styles still common, but it's like. Well lemme put it this way: I didn't know the term 'nivi' till last year when I started looking into sari history. To me there was only ever the "standard" sari and the exceptions of the Maharashtrian or Bengali sari styles.)

So y'know, I'm fascinated by how a single style suddenly blew up in popularity so intensely that it changed the entire landscape of Indian clothing. We went from saris varying between neighbouring districts in some cases, to a single style populating pretty much the entirety of the first page of google image results for 'sari'.

[addendum: I feel like pointing out that this change also raises questions of practicality. I am not well-versed in the art of sari draping, but in my (very) limited experience, the nivi drape feels less practical than some of the older styles? Too many things that can flop around; I feel like the styles where everything is neatly tucked away + worn like pants is much more practical. Those styles lasted as long as they did for a /reason/. But, the nivi is possibly easy to wear, maybe? idk though, feel like you can learn any style with practice, and ease of doing things after you've worn it should outweigh how easy the act of wearing it is, imo. But also I don't particularly wear saris so idk.]

(sorry, this was supposed to have been a really quick aside, maybe a single para long. welp.) well, how about I offer what I looked up before that instead?

it was "cat pinned YOU pot broken tumblr"

Much more pithy and fun! I was looking for this image:

Song stuck in my head: Well I'm currently listening to 'Raise You Up / Just Be' from Kinky Boots, but for the past couple of days my brain's been cycling through songs from Treason and Ride The Cyclone (they're all musicals, yes).

Number of followers: Twenty something on this blog I think? I refuse to close this post editor to check. Weeding out the bots is a daily chore, though. :[

Amount of sleep: Surprisingly, I've been getting plenty of sleep of late! I think I got about 7 hours last night. I will CHERISH these few weeks of sufficient (if irregular) sleep for years to come. 😌

Dream job: this changes literally every three months, scream. but I keep coming back to something involving brief, intense periods of research into something, writing about it for a general audience, and then moving on to another topic.

Wearing: a shirt that reads 'stressed, depressed, but well dressed' that 13 y/o me absolutely loved owning, but it's still super comfy years later so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Paired with pyjamas that used to be my mum's but then I flicked them and then tore them and then mended them even though I don't even like them all that much, so really, what am I even doing with them still.

Movies/books that summarize you: listen, I'm an engineering graduate who fucking hates maths and physics. I think I'm legally obligated to say 3 Idiots akfksghksg. Also throwing in Enid Blyton because I grew up reading her stuff, Mamma Mia because how could I not mention it, and Maryada Ramanna for reasons I'll elaborate on some other time when I'm not dragging out an already long post.

Favorite song: I refuse to pick only one because (adopts horrified voice) how could I?! But right now, I keep going back to certain In Trousers and Hadestown songs (still talking musicals, yes. I promise I do listen to other stuff, just... not so much, of late). Also you can inject 'Take Things Into Our Own Hands' from Treason into my fucking veins, okay? I LOVE that so sodding much (the album version - I need you to know that, even if that clarification means less than nothing to you. The live concert version is not it). excellent revolution rousing song, that.

Favorite instrument: Ah this one's hard. I don't really focus on specific instruments much, so I'll go with the flute since I was rather partial to it as a kid - not the sound of it, not playing it. just. the instrument. idk. I spent a good chunk of time on the flute's wiki page back then ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ oh, taking a leaf out of jules' book and also going with voice - I am very much a sucker for a good bit of harmonising.

Aesthetic: genuinely stumped by this one, actually. will accept answers from anyone who's got an opinion on this!

Favorite authors: this question is MEAN. I mostly read fanfiction of late, but I also tend to just subscribe to them or bookmark their profiles rather than remember the usernames, welp. So mhmm before I dived into fanfiction, I was really into Trudi Canavan, Eoin Colfer, Cornelia Funke, Jane Austen, Enid Blyton, Sudha Murthy, and Rick Riordan, amongst others.

Random fun fact: I imagine this is meant to be a fun fact about me but I am itching to throw in a fun fact about construction technology or corsets instead akskgdg. I'm. Also blanking on literally anything remotely interesting about me akfkshg. welp, guess my fact shall be that I somehow manage to romanticise concrete technology regularly? (plasticisers are fucking awesome, okay? and I've said it a lot before, but the implications of acoustic emissions in concrete make me a lil emotional)

Well, brief dive into sari drapes aside, that's me done! many thank for tagging me, Jules! :D I took approximately forever to get around to doing it (apologies!), but I got to ramble about clothing history so I had lots of fun doing this now :]

(also consider this me tagging anyone who feels like doing this!)

[guruglobal]

How to Teach Children's Vocabulary?

Vocabulary plays a crucial role in effective communication. At times, even when we have a good understanding of a subject, we may struggle to find the right words to express ourselves clearly. This challenge is not limited to adults; it also applies to children. Therefore, it is essential to teach children vocabulary to ensure they can comprehend concepts and communicate effectively with others. By enriching their vocabulary, we empower children to express themselves more clearly and engage in meaningful conversations with confidence. Let's explore effective methods to teach children vocabulary.

Music as an Engaging Vocabulary Tool

Music is one of the most effective ways to teach vocabulary. When we listen to music, we understand better, making it a great tool for easy comprehension. With its various rhythms and melodies, we can choose songs that help children learn vocabulary in a fun and engaging manner.

Use Flashcards and Word Games

Flashcards and word games are valuable tools for teaching children's vocabulary. Create flashcards with pictures and corresponding words to make learning more interactive and visual. Play word games like 'I Spy', 'Word Bingo', or 'Scrabble Junior' to make learning vocabulary fun and engaging. These games not only introduce new words but also reinforce spelling, pronunciation, and comprehension skills.

Top of Form

Repeat Vocabulary in English Conversations

Engaging in conversations with children in English and consistently repeating vocabulary is a highly effective teaching method. When you communicate with children and repeat the same words or phrases, they absorb the information through active listening. This repetitive exposure helps them understand and retain the vocabulary more effectively, reinforcing their learning in a natural and engaging way.

Introduce a Word of the Day

Regularly introduce new words to the kids so that they learn consistently. This is the best way to teach vocabulary regularly, helping children learn more effectively. Teaching vocabulary at home has its limitations, as children may not communicate with friends and therefore have limited exposure. This is where playschools play a crucial role. We are the best play school in Bengali Square, boasting excellent teachers and a nurturing environment that fosters your child's growth. In our playschool, we teach children these things through fun and engaging methods.

[imaconference]

How to Teach Children's Vocabulary?

Vocabulary plays a crucial role in effective communication. At times, even when we have a good understanding of a subject, we may struggle to find the right words to express ourselves clearly. This challenge is not limited to adults; it also applies to children. Therefore, it is essential to teach children vocabulary to ensure they can comprehend concepts and communicate effectively with others. By enriching their vocabulary, we empower children to express themselves more clearly and engage in meaningful conversations with confidence. Let's explore effective methods to teach children vocabulary.

Music as an Engaging Vocabulary Tool

Music is one of the most effective ways to teach vocabulary. When we listen to music, we understand better, making it a great tool for easy comprehension. With its various rhythms and melodies, we can choose songs that help children learn vocabulary in a fun and engaging manner.

Use Flashcards and Word Games

Flashcards and word games are valuable tools for teaching children's vocabulary. Create flashcards with pictures and corresponding words to make learning more interactive and visual. Play word games like 'I Spy', 'Word Bingo', or 'Scrabble Junior' to make learning vocabulary fun and engaging. These games not only introduce new words but also reinforce spelling, pronunciation, and comprehension skills.

Repeat Vocabulary in English Conversations

Engaging in conversations with children in English and consistently repeating vocabulary is a highly effective teaching method. When you communicate with children and repeat the same words or phrases, they absorb the information through active listening. This repetitive exposure helps them understand and retain the vocabulary more effectively, reinforcing their learning in a natural and engaging way.

Introduce a Word of the Day

Regularly introduce new words to the kids so that they learn consistently. This is the best way to teach vocabulary regularly, helping children learn more effectively.

Teaching vocabulary at home has its limitations, as children may not communicate with friends and therefore have limited exposure. This is where playschools play a crucial role. We are the best play school in Bengali Square, boasting excellent teachers and a nurturing environment that fosters your child's growth. In our playschool, we teach children these things through fun and engaging methods.