Our Society

UNIT 3

Our Society

Learning Objectives

The learners

• Identify and understand the importance of different festivals

• Appreciate the different roles of people in society

Festivals

We celebrate many festivals. Some are celebrated to thank Nature and others are local celebrations. All festivals are occasions to express our unity.

Traditional Festivals

Pongal - Do you know why we celebrate Pongal?

Pongal is a harvest festival. A good harvest brings happiness to all. During Pongal we thank Nature for giving us the food we eat.

We celebrate Pongal for four days. Each day has a unique feature.

First Day - Bhogi

On this day people discard old things and clean their homes.

They also paint the walls with limestone (Sunnambu), making the houses bright and clean.

They draw beautiful kolams in front of the house.

They burn old and damaged items. Burning tyres and plastic items makes the air dirty. This should be avoided.

Second Day - Thai Pongal

On this day, people prepare pongal in a new pot with newly harvested rice. They worship and thank the Sun.

Third Day - Mattu Pongal

It is a celebration to thank cattle, which work hard for us. Cattle are decorated and worshipped on this day.

Fourth Day-Kanum Pongal (Uzhavar Thirunal)

It is a day for thanking the farmers. People also visit relatives, friends, temples and scenic spots and have fun together.

Tick (✓) the ingredients used to make sweet pongal.

Local Festivals

Vanmathi went to see the local village festival with her grandfather. Observe the picture and see what happens there.

Vanmathi rode on the Merry-go-round. (Rattinam)

She watched the Karagattam and Puliyattam dances.

She bought colourful bangles, balloons and some toys.

Complete the patterns, decorate and colour the temple car.

Festivals of Joy

Festivals like Ramzan, Diwali and Christmas are days of joy and sharing. On these days people wear new dresses and decorate their homes. They prepare special food items which they distribute to everyone.

Special Food Items of Festivals

Tick (✓) the correct way of bursting crackers.

Abdhul wants to give biriyani to Vanmathi and David. Guide Abdhul to reach his friends.

Our Friends

Vanmathi wanted to send a letter to her friend. Let us see whom she met on the way.

Vanmathi: Do you deliver letters?

Teacher: No, I am a teacher. I am fond of children. I like to teach lessons and good values.

Vanmathi: Do you deliver letters?

policeman: No, I am a policeman.  I protect public places and keep people safe.

Vanmathi: Do you deliver letters?

Doctor: No, I am a doctor . I help sick people get well.

Vanmathi: Do you deliver letters?

Nurse: No, I am a nurse.  I am kind and care for the needs of sick people. I tie bandages and give injections.

Vanmathi: Do you deliver letters?

Shopkeeper: No, I am a shopkeeper. I measure and count goods and sell them in my shop.

Vanmathi: Do you deliver letters?

Vendor: No, I am a vegetable vendor.

Vanmathi: Do you deliver letters?

Milkman: No, I am a milkman. I care for cows and buffaloes. I supply milk to people.

Vanmathi: Do you deliver letters?

Postman: Yes, I do. I am a postman.  I collect letters from the postbox. I sort letters according to the address. I deliver the letters to the correct address.

Connect our friends to their work place.

Sequence the pictures by entering numbers from 1- 5.