discovery chest artifact description cards · 2020. 4. 10. · september, peacock calls are heard...

IndiaDiscovery Chest

Artifact Description Cards

QUICK INDIA FACTS!

• India is the seventh-largest country by geographical area.

• India's population is over 1.17 billion, representing 17% of the world's population.

• India is a country in South Asia that is comprised of 28 states and seven union territories.

• Hindi is the official language and either Indo-Aryan or Dravidian is mostly spoken by Indian

people.

• Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad are the largest cities

in India.

• Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is India’s largest city with 14 million inhabitants.

• Hinduism is the dominant religion, while Islam, Christianity and Buddhism are also popular.

• The national currency is the Indian Rupee and it is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India.

• The Indian caste system is a strict hierarchy among social and economic classes and

hereditary groups

Hindi Alphabet Chart

India1A, ARTICLES OF EVERYDAY USE

What is this?• Modern Hindi is written in Devanagari script, which is

made of two Sanskrit words: Deva, meaning “God” and Nagari, meaning “of urban origin.”

What is its significance?• Devanagari has its origin in Brahmi script. Writings in

Brahmi script from across the Indian subcontinent date back to the 5th century BC. More than ten Indian languages have evolved from Brahmi.

Hindi Alphabet GuideWhat is this?• An explanatory guide to the Hindi alphabet.What is its significance?• Allows people to understand the alphabet in a less

traditional, more comprehensive way.


Sandalwood IncenseWhat is this?• A fragrant wood which originates from India and Australia, with

an essential oil that has a bright, fresh smell with a wooden base note. It is used in religious ceremonies.

What is its significance?• In Hinduism, sandalwood was ground into an incense paste

and burnt both as an offering to deities and to cleanse the air and atmosphere to felicitate a meditative atmosphere.


Brass Incense Burner

Who would have used this item?• Monks, medicinal priests.What is this?• A brass instrument used for burning forms of fruits, roots,

stems and branches, flowers, and leaves. Initially, it was used to mask odors and create pleasurable smells. Incense has also been used for medicinal purposes and for gracing religious rituals for thousands of years, as early as 5000 BC.

What is its significance?• Indian incense takes pride in being held as the first

organized and uniform system of incense making the world over.


Brass ContainerWhat is this?• A vessel for storage or decoration. The brass is a yellow colored

alloy of copper and zinc. An alloy is a combination of two or more metals that imparts greater strength to the mixed metal. Brass production in the Indian subcontinent is dated back to the first century BC.

What is its significance?• The unique properties of brass resulted in production of many

technical instruments like clocks, watches, chronometers, and navigational tools.


Peepal Leaf Painting Who would have used this item?• Artists.What is this?• A delicate work of art which originated in the southern India. It is one

of the oldest forms of art. Typically, oil paints are applied to the leaf and dried completely. The leaf is then mounted on colored paper and framed for display.

What is its significance?• More than 2000 Years ago, Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of

Buddhism, was sitting under a tree of Peepal Leaves when he became enlightened. Ever since then, the Peepal has been also known as Bodhi tree. Peepal leaves have been used for writing in India even before the invention of paper.


Glass BanglesWho would have used this item?• Mainly married women, but also toddlers, men, anyone.What is this?• Bracelets made of metal, jade, plastic, wood, sea shells, lac, and glass.

Bangles can have very intricate designs, and more expensive bangles might have precious stones inlayed, or perhaps intricate carvings. Most bangles are solid circles, but some metal bangles have a break in them so that they can be put on wrists easier.

What is its significance?• The wearing of bangles has been traced back as far as 2600 BC, in an

excavation at Mohenjo-daro.• These bangles are important during Indian weddings, because a bride

must wear as many small glass bangles as she can on her wedding day. It is said that the honeymoon ends when all the bangles have broken. They are very well known for the jingling sound made when a woman moves her arms, especially during dances.


Tika ContainersWhat is this?• Hand carved Tikka boxes were traditionally used to store the

powder for tilaka, a Hindu mark worn on the forehead in line with the nose and just above the brow line, among other parts of the body. The powders are vermilion, turmeric, or red sandal paste.

What is its significance?• The spot in the center of the forehead is the location of the

“third eye,” as well as the location of ajna chakra, or energy. It is said to help one reach “self-realization.”


Tusli Kanthi MalaWho would have used this item?• It is used by followers of Vaishnavism, as the Tulsi is an

important plant to the Hindu god Krishna.What is this?• A religious necklace worn around the neck of Hindus as

an indication of their faith. Kanthi must be worn at the level of the heart, where the gods are believed to reside within each person.

What is its significance?• It is a very important religious item and is rarely taken

off. Vaishnava Hindus are not supposed to wear their Kanthi Malas unless they follow the principles of vaishnavism: no eating meat, no gambling, no intoxicant substances, etc.


Shiva & Parvati on a BullWhat is this?• A wood carving used to tell the story of when Lord Shiva and

his consort, Parvati, were travelling with their vehicle—the Bull. The Lord had taken the form of an old man while Parvatiremained young and beautiful. On their journey, the couple were met with criticism from every village no matter who was walking the bull and who was riding it.

What is its significance?• The story is meant to teach that even if we perform a good

deed not everyone will like and support it. Shiva said, ''Come let us do what we think is right, and live the way we want to. The world will never appreciate or see what we do as correct.''

India1B, CRAFTS

Kashmir Wedding Doll—Bride

Who would have used this item?• Brides.What is this?• This doll represents a traditional Indian bride from Kashmiri in the far

North of India. What is its significance?• Indian weddings are still often arranged by the parents of the bride and

groom through family connections and advertisements that highlight the good qualities of the prospective mates. There are many different kinds of wedding rituals for different Indian ethnical groups.

India2B, CRAFTS

Etched Brass VaseWhat is this?• A decorative vase.What is its significance?• Etched on the vase is usually a peacock. The peacock is the national bird of

India. Right before the monsoon season begins, which is usually July thought September, peacock calls are heard because it is their mating season. The peacock’s shrill calls, translate to "minh-ao,” has come to mean, literally, "there will be rain.” Indian folklore is that these peacock calls are heralding the start of the monsoon, which floods India’s rivers with some of the heaviest rainfall in the world.

India3B, CRAFTS

Wooden Peacock Who would have used this item?• Anyone.What is this?• A painted wooden sculpture used as decoration.What is its significance?• The national bird of India is the peacock. It

symbolizes grace, pride, and beauty. In Hinduism, the peacock is associated with Lakshmi who represents patience, kindness, and luck.

India4B, CRAFTS

Kashmir Wedding Doll—GroomWho would have used this item?• Grooms.What is this?These dolls represent a traditional Indian bride and groom from Kashmiri in the far North of India. Indian weddings are still often arranged by the parents of the bride and groom through family connections and advertisements that highlight the good qualities of the prospective mates. There are many different kinds of wedding rituals for different Indian ethnical groups. What is its significance?• Same as bride version.

India5B, CRAFTS

Patachitra / Pottachitra PaintingWhat is this?• Patachitra painting is one of the most traditional forms of

Indian art, originating in Orrisa. These paintings can date as far back as 700 CE. What makes these paintings distinct is the cloth canvas and the intricate borders. Most are very colorful, but others, such as the example found in the chest, are black and white.

• The cloth that is used is made through a very delicate process. First it is bonded with gum from tamarind seeds, then it is dried in the sun, and last it is burnished with stones on both sides. The paintings themselves are done with crude brushed made out of animal hairs.

What is its significance?• The Patachitra painting available in your chest portrays various aspects of traditional Indian life,

including an elephant, some traditional tools and containers, and a domesticated horse.

India7B, CRAFTS

Rajasthan PuppetWho would have used this item?• Entertainers.What is this?• Traditional marionettes, which are made of wood, cloth, and wire. They are a source of

entertainment, but have been used for hundreds of years as a form of education regarding social issues, such as the dowry system or illiteracy. Often, the shows demonstrate potential solutions to many problems of the time.

What is its significance?• Rajasthan, India, is the hometown of Kathputli puppetry, the most popular form of puppetry in

India. Puppetry in India is over 1000 years old.• Kathputli puppet shows have affected Rajasthani life and have influenced the culture of the area

greatly. The shows are also methods of telling folk tales and spreading knowledge to all people. Rajasthani gatherings and festivals always bring a troupe of puppeteers that put on multiple shows. Scholars believe that the tradition of Kathputli puppetry originated with the Bhat tribe of Rajasthan. The Bhat people say that their ancestors have been performing Kathputli since ancient times and earned great honor by performing for the Rajasthani royals.

• Kathputli was also once an art form greatly supported by wealthy patrons, who gave money to puppeteers in exchange for puppet shows that praised the ancestors of the patrons.

India8B, CRAFTS

Terracotta Elephants What is this?• Small figurines. The Hindu god Ganesha has the head of an elephant. Ganesha is the god that

many Hindus pray to if they wish for success and well-being. What is its significance?• Elephants are a very important part of Indian culture. Indian people have domesticated the

elephant for hundreds of years, and they honor the animal for its strength and its association with water due to its gray color. Elephants are very prominent in Indian myths and lore, and the Hindu god Ganesa has the head of an elephant. Ganesa is the god that many Hindus pray

• to if they wish for success and well-being. Elephants represent water and rain in many Hindu stories due to their huge, gray appearance that makes them look like storm clouds. The animals are also very important in Indian culture as they are domesticated and used for transportation, travel, entertainment, and in the past, execution.

• One Hindu myth is that the ancient elephant Airavata, who was ridden by Indra when Indra defeated Vrta. After the battle, Airavata sucked up water from the great pools in the underworld and then sprayed it into the clouds, linking the water in the underworld with the water aboveground.

• Many domesticated elephants work in temples during ceremonies or festivals, and are often used to carry ceremonial objects. Domesticated elephants are also used to play elephant polo, which is simply polo played on elephants rather than horses. In the past, elephants were used to deal execution as a symbol for a ruler’s extreme power over not only mankind, but animal kind as well.

India9B, CRAFTS

Wooden Printing BlocksWho would have used this item?• Artists, dyers. Traditionally the dyers carve their own

blocks and the individual designs, motifs, or patterns represent the tradition of a particular dyer or area’s signature style.

• Wood block printing is a craft that is handed down through generations and remains popular today.

What is this?• These wooden blocks are hand carved and used for

printing with vegetable dyes on fabric, traditionally cotton. Wood blocks prepared with relief patterns and motifs

• carved carefully by hands using sharp knives or chisels. What is its significance?• India has been renowned for its printed and dyed cotton cloth since the 12th century and the

creative processes flourished as the fabric received royal patronage. • The ancient craft has seen a major revival and has moved away from its traditional rural centers

to the metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore. India12B, CRAFTS

Wooden CobraWhat is this?• This is a hand-carved toy used by kids to play games that revolve

around the stories of popular folklore. • The cobra is considered the king of reptiles and is, of course,

extremely poisonous. It is also revered and worshiped by the tribal people, villagers, and especially, the " SHAIVA BHAKTAS,” the followers of Lord Shiva - "the destroyer" in the Hindu Trinity.

What is its significance?• The snake has great significance in Hinduism as it symbolizes the

three processes of creation: creation, preservation, and destruction. The Hindu god Shiva usually is depicted with a cobra around his neck as he meditates, while the god Vishnu is shown to rest on the back of a cosmic cobra as he dreams the universe into being.

India1C, HOLIDAYS/TRADITIONS

Statue of Krishna Who would have used this item?• Hindus What is this?• A small statue of a Hindu god, used for religious purposes. • Usually depicted as a lean, blue man with a feather adorning his head and a flute by his

side. • Krishna is said to be the embodiment of love and divine joy that destroys all pain and

sin, and the protector of sacred utterances and cows.• When he was born (3228 BC 3102 BC), Kamsa, a demon, heard that the young god would

one day lead to his ruin, so he conspired to have the newborn Krishna banished from his home and attempted to poison him. Krishna survived and grew to be a mischievous young boy, but he was always met with demons that were trying to kill him.

What is its significance?• Krishna is the central figure of the Bhagavad-Gita, an ancient Indian text that became an

important work of Hindu literature and philosophy and also the main source book on yoga and a concise summary of India's Vedic wisdom.

• Krishna gave the immortal dialogue of the Bhagavad-Gita. His life and dialogue were very important for making spirituality accessible to ordinary people.

• The central message of Sri Krishna was for man to take part in desireless action—motivated not by human ego, but in service to the Divine Cause. India

2C, HOLIDAYS/TRADITIONS

GaneshaWhat is this?• Ganesha statues are put in colorfully decorated homes

and special temporary structures. Priests dressed in red and white chant mantras and give offerings for Ganesha. After several days, the statues are immersed in water for good luck.

What is its significance?• Ganesha is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom,

prosperity, and good fortune. Ganesha Chaturthi is the Hindu festival celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesha.


BindiWho would have used this item?• Women and men throughout India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri

Lanka, and Mauritius.What is this?• A “drop, small particle, and dot” which used a person’s

mystical third eye. The red bindi is associated with the ancient practice of offering blood sacrifices to appease the Gods. The bindi is a sign of marriage and is also thought to guarantee the social status and sanctity of the institution of marriage. But when a woman has the misfortune of becoming a widow, she stops wearing the bindi. Single women wear black dots.

What is its significance?• Today, the bindi has become a popular accessory and

fashion statement for some people.India

4C, HOLIDAYS/TRADITIONS

Jagannath MasksWhat is this?• Jagannath, or “Lord of the Universe,” is a Hindu deity

considered to be a form of the supreme Hindu god Vishnu. Jagannath is the cause of all creation, and he is the cause of all avatars, or incarnations, of Hindu gods. Jagannath is featured in the Ratha yatra, a festival in which he is transported on a chariot along with two other gods from a temple.

What is its significance?• Jagannath is the origin of the word juggernaut, which

means unstoppable force.


Rakhee

Who would have used this item?• Hindus, Jains, and some Sikhs throughout India, Nepal, Mauritius, and

parts of Pakistan.What is this?• A bracelet used to celebrate brothers, sisters, and cousins. A Rakhee is

tied around the wrist of a brother by his sister. This ceremonial tying represents their love for one another, including the sister’s prayers for her brother’s health and the brother’s promise to protect his sister. It is primarily used during the Raksha bandhan festival.

What is its significance?• The ceremony has appeared many times in Indian history, including one

instance when Alexander the Great supposedly was spared from death by an India king due to the vow made with the rakhee.


Racki Ankle Bracelet Who would have used this item?• Women.What is this?• Jewelry for the ankle with lots of tiny chains, bells, and

charms. Today's Indian wedding customs still include wearing anklet bracelets as a part of the ceremonial wedding garments and as a sign of marital status. Women in tribal areas wear handmade silver anklets that are extremely heavy as a display of bravery.

What is its significance?• In Shilappadikaram, a famous poem, a married man falls in

love with another woman who wears an anklet. Her anklet has such magical powers that he is powerless to resist her.

India1D, ITEMS FOR PAGEANT

Puja Butter LampWho would have used this item?• PriestsWhat is this?• This small, brass lamp is used during Diwali, also known as the festival

of lights is the most Pan-Indian of all Hindu festivals, it symbolizes the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. A family festival, it is celebrated 20 days after Dussehra, on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Asvin (October-November).

• A brass lamp used to light the holiest places in Hindu temples. They had wicks burning in ghee (clarified butter). Lamps are also swung in circular motions before the images of various deities, or lit at the great Festival of Lights in honor of Lakshmi and Rama.

What is its significance?• Ghee is the most precious substance provided by the most sacred beast

on earth, the cow. In Hindu mythology, Prajápati, Lord of Creatures, created ghee by rubbing or "churning" his hands together and then poured it into fire to produce offspring. Burning ghee in lamps is seen as a reenactment of creation.


Brass BellWho would have used this item?• Religious figures, musicians.What is this?• A brass instrument.• Aarti is the specific prayer ritual that takes place several times a day that

uses the butter lamp along with agarbatti (incense) and bells.• The bells are used while praying to 'get the attention' of the god or goddess

and the incense is burned while making offerings of sweets and coins in front of the lit lamp.

What is its significance?• Smaller bells were openly used by people who wanted easy way of

conveying information across large distances. Musicians used them as an instrument. Bells are also used in religious ceremonies—such as worshiping or offering fruits or food items to the Gods—traditions, and public superstitions.


Sandalwood Stick and Stone GrinderWhat is this?• A fragrant wood which originates from India and Australia with

an essential oil that has a bright, fresh smell with a wooden base note. It is used for grinding.

• Using the stick and grinder, the following ingredients may be ground: sandalwood, frankincense, camphor, jaggery, honey, cow dung, fenugreek, clove, cardamom, coriander, cumin, ginger, and cinnamon. The ingredients are then combined together, forming small balls by mixing dry-roasted rice or barley flour as a base, then binding the ingredients to the base with ghee (butter).

What is its significance?• The sandalwood stick and grinder are used to make the

agarbatti, or incense for ritualistic prayer. • Sandalwood, unlike several other fragrant woods, retains its

fragrance for many years.

India4D & 5D, ITEMS FOR PAGEANT

Orange Banarasi Silk Sari

What is this?• A type of cloth, popularized by Emperor Akbar who loved

silk work so much he dressed his harem in it and had his palace draped in it.

What is its significance?• Historians have been able to trace silk work to Vedic

times. Hiranya—literally translated as cloth made from gold—finds mention in the revered Rig Vedas as the attire of the Gods. And some scholars believe that this description comes close to the embellished zari work.

India1E, CLOTHING

Bamboo FluteWhat is this?• A portable wind instrument, used to accompany dancers

(including semi-religious dances). • The flute is one of the three celebrated musical instruments of

India. What is its significance?• The bamboo flute is associated with the Hindu god Krishna. As

a young man he used his flute to charm the milkmaids. His music not only pleased the women, but made the forests stand still, drawing in all of the inhabiting animals.

• The Hindu deity Krishna is often depicted as a sheepherder playing a bamboo flute. Over the centuries, the bamboo flute has earned itself a prominent place in Indian music and mythology.

India2F, MUSIC

Drum What is this?• An instrument, used for entertainment and religious ceremonies. • The drum is an important Indian instrument, most prevalent also in Northern

Indian classical music and usually supporting the sitar. One such example is called the tabla drum. The tabla functions as a drum –pair, meaning both drums are played together, with one hand working each drum. One drum is made of wood, and the other is made of copper or clay. They are set on cloth rings to hold them in place. The heads on these drums are usually made of goatskin and have three distinct parts, which produce three different sounds.

What is its significance?• One of the most interesting aspects of table music is the use of bols

(syllables), which represent specific strokes. This enables players of tablamusic to recite entire compositions or fragments of exercises to each other. Consequently, the music has been passed down as an oral tradition and only in this century have written compositions using these bols become general available.

• Drummers spend 10 to 12 years learning to chant the different rhythmic patterns that signal which drum and which part of the head they will strike when they play. Only when the chants are mastered is a drummer allowed to play them on the drums.

India2F, MUSIC

discovery chest artifact description cards · 2020. 4. 10. · september, peacock calls are heard...

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