Diwali – a victory of light over dark
Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights, celebrated every year in autumn. One of the most poplar festivals of Hinduism, it spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. This will be our first Diwali in Hong Kong, and Diwali this year is around the same time of our term-break, so we hope...
Lockdown Diaries: Teenager Jai Aswani on a mission to feed the hungry in India by collecting 100 tonnes of food grains
Our initiative Mission 100 Tonnes was born out of distress calls we received from old age homes, orphanages, and pet shelters in Chennai, during the government-imposed lockdown in India three weeks back. Since then, there has been no looking back for us. The number of marginalised people requiring help during the unprecedented time of the COVID-19 outbreak has increased...
Home-made choco bar by a nine-year-old
I am not a great fan of chocolate - although that might seem a little strange since all children like chocolate. I love fruity flavours more than pure chocolate. So the chocolate bar I made included dry raspberries, watermelon-flavoured popping candy, and bits of honeycomb. If you like dry fruits like almonds, nuts, and raisins then you shall enjoy this...
Freedom
Freedom is to fly like a bird upon the sky. Freedom is to climb the mountain so high. Freedom is to be free and do whatever you want, Freedom is to write freely, using any desired font. Freedom is to fight courageously for your nation, Freedom is to provide every unlettered education. Freedom is here to free you after being trapped for all those...
Lockdown Diaries: Children express themselves in the times of Corona
Children in times of Corona is one example of challenging usual pathways. It started as an idea to create an intercultural digital space that then expanded even further as a platform to co-create, co-produce creative content with children between the age of five and fifteen, mainly working with South-Asian community, nurseries and schools in United Kingdom. We understand the...
Diwali – a beautiful festival
Diwali is a beautiful Hindu festival, it's a festival of lights. On Diwali, we light candles and decorate the house with flower decorations, rangoli, clean cushions, and festive lights to show that lights always overcomes darkness. This amazing festival takes place in the time span of October to November, when the weather starts getting nicer and cooler, especially in India. We've...
Uttorsori: The Generation Next Festival celebrated virtually over eight hours
The 7th season of Essex Indians UK's flagship event 'Uttorsori: Generation Next Festival' went virtual this year on the 21 June. Started in 2014 to encourage children and young adults to become a part of the cultural heritage and focus on project related to global causes, the event has grown from strength to strength over the past years. The one-of its...
Tales from the lockdown
From the minds of Samar and Ashish Hingorani come a collection of stories that follow three characters adapting to the new "normal" in these days of coronavirus. The illustrations are by Lakshmi Hingorani. Enjoy. NOTE: the controls to move back and forth through the pages are at the bottom of each page.
Teacher turns author to keep Gujarati alive for future generations
Growing up in a multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual London has been a key factor in shaping my identity. I am British – born and bred. A true Londoner. And I am as Indian as they come. My childhood was an Indian one, from the food, the language, the weekend activities, to the way I interact with people; my experiences have...
Netflix releases first Pakistani animated film S Obaid-Chinoy’s “Sitara: Let girls dream”
Netflix, the world's leading Internet entertainment service, has released Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s SITARA: LET GIRLS DREAM, which is available in over 190 countries. SITARA marks the first Pakistani Animated Film to be released and distributed by NETFLIX USA. Written and directed by two-time Academy and three-time Emmy Award-winning director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, SITARA: LET GIRLS DREAM takes the audience on a journey through the old city of Lahore, where,...