NCERT Solutions for Class 6 English Unit 5 Culture and Tradition Chapter 01 Ila Sachani Embroidering Dreams with her Feet

Let Us Discuss

Question 1. What has Bharat always been known for?
Answer: Around the world, India has always been famous as a home of smart and brave people.
In simple words: India is famous across the globe because many wise thinkers and brave heroes lived here.

Exam Tip: Keep your answer direct and use simple adjectives like 'famous', 'smart', and 'brave' to describe our country's history.

Question 2. What is attractive about Bharat?
Answer: Since ancient times, India's deep, colorful, and unique traditions have brought many travelers to visit.
In simple words: People from other countries have loved visiting India for its beautiful and varied customs for thousands of years.

Exam Tip: Mention the word 'traditions' or 'culture' to explain what brings visitors to India.

Question 3. What is special about the fact that the people live here in unison?
Answer: Our people living together peacefully shows the beautiful idea of unity in diversity, which makes our country very special.
In simple words: Even though Indians speak different languages and follow different customs, we live together happily as one big family.

Exam Tip: 'Unity in diversity' is a very important phrase in this chapter. Make sure to use it in your answers about national unity.

Question 4. What geographical features does the passage mention?
Answer: The text describes India's beautiful nature, including rivers, lakes, tall mountains, and thick green forests that shelter plants and animals.
In simple words: The passage talks about India's natural landscape, like its clean rivers, deep lakes, tall peaks, and wild forests.

Exam Tip: List the physical features (rivers, lakes, mountains, forests) clearly as they are described in the passage.

Question 5. What is the advice given to everyone?
Answer: The message tells all Indian citizens to keep working hard so that our nation can grow stronger and happier.
In simple words: We are advised to put in our best efforts so our country stays successful and beautiful.

Exam Tip: Explain 'prospers' in simpler terms like 'grow', 'progress', or 'become successful' to show you understand the meaning.

Let Us Do These Activities Before We Read

Question. Our country is beautiful and every state has its own uniqueness. The words given below are part of our identity. Complete these words with the correct vowels (A, E, I, O, U).
(a) We like to decorate our homes with our f_ _ l k_ _ r t.
(b) Our c_ _ l t_ _ r e consists of our ideas, customs, traditions, values, arts, and languages.
(c) All of us celebrate our f_ _ s t_ _ v_ _ l s together.
(d) We tell stories to our children to teach them about our c_ _ l t_ _ r e, h_ _ s t_ _ r y, and l_ _ g_ _ n d s.
(e) We have our own l_ _ n g_ _ a g_ _ s to talk to each other.
Answer:
(a) folk art
(b) culture
(c) festivals
(d) culture, history, legends
(e) languages
In simple words: We filled in the missing vowels to complete the words: folk art, culture, festivals, history, legends, and languages.

Exam Tip: Double-check the vowel placements to make sure the words are spelled correctly according to the context of the sentences.

Let Us Read

Part I

Question 1. What is the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme all about?
Answer: This initiative teaches us that we are all part of one country, helps us share a close bond, and honors our national unity.
In simple words: The programme helps students understand that even though we live in different states, we are all united as one India.

Exam Tip: State the main three goals: belonging to one nation, building close connections, and honoring unity.

Question 2. Why is this programme being conducted?
Answer: It is held to show everyone that our unique mixture of different cultures makes India the most beautiful country on Earth.
In simple words: This project is organized to make us proud of how our different cultures join together to make a great nation.

Exam Tip: Connect the reason for the program to 'promoting cultural pride' and 'showing national beauty'.

Part II

Question. On the basis of what the speakers said about the art forms, complete the table given below.
Answer: Here is the completed table showing the traditional art forms:

In simple words: This table lists traditional Indian crafts, where they come from, and the materials needed to create them.

Exam Tip: Match the child's name with their correct state and specific art form (like Akanksha with Aipan in Uttarakhand) to fill in tables correctly.

Let Us Think and Reflect

Question 1. Fill in the blanks to complete the following sentences.
(a) The designs for Aipan are taken from _________ and _________.
(b) Dhokra metal craft is very old because it is _________ old.
(c) A base is needed for coconut shell craft to make it _________.
(d) Soft wood, _________ and colours are used to make Kondapalli toys.
Answer:
(a) cultural traditions and observations of nature
(b) 4000 years old
(c) stable
(d) makku (a paste of tamarind seed powder and sawdust)
In simple words: We filled in the blanks to explain what inspires Aipan art, how old Dhokra is, why coconut crafts need a base, and what materials are used for Kondapalli toys.

Exam Tip: Review specific craft descriptions in the lesson to find precise terms, like 'makku' for the tamarind paste.

Question 2. Why does Akanksha's family make Aipan?
Answer: Her family creates this art during special festivals and family events to decorate their floors, walls, prayer rooms, and doorways.
In simple words: They draw these beautiful designs to celebrate happy family occasions and make their prayer rooms and entrances look festive.

Exam Tip: Mention key occasions (festivals and family events) and key locations (walls, floors, prayer rooms) in your answer.

Question 3. In Dhokra, why does wax come out of the small openings?
Answer: When the clay figure is heated in fire, the wax inside melts and flows out of these holes. This leaves a hollow space in the mold where melted brass is later poured.
In simple words: Heating the mold melts the wax so it drains away, leaving an empty pocket that is filled with hot metal to make the craft.

Exam Tip: Explain this step-by-step: first heating, then melting, then creating an empty space, and finally pouring liquid metal.

Question 4. What is common in the toys made in Balamurali's village and coconut shell craft in Kerala?
Answer: Both crafts are made completely by hand using natural materials. They also show the local culture and can be used to decorate homes or help with daily tasks.
In simple words: Both crafts use natural things found nearby, are made lovingly by hand, and are useful or pretty.

Exam Tip: Look for shared traits like 'natural materials', 'handcrafted', and 'cultural symbols' to compare different art forms.

Let Us Learn

Question 1. Priyaranjan, Chitra and Balamurali share how art works of their states are made. They use some words to show the order of making it. Those words are given in the box below.
[to begin | first | then | after that | next | finally | at last]
Now, use some of these words to complete the paragraph given below. Use one word only once.
How I Get Ready for School
(i) _________ I get up and go to take a shower. (ii) _________ I wear my school dress. (iii) _________ I eat my food. (iv) _________ I wear my shoes. (v) _________ I pick up my bag and go out of my home.
Answer: Here is the completed paragraph:

(i) First, I get up and go to take a shower. (ii) After that, I wear my school dress. (iii) Then, I eat my food. (iv) Next, I wear my shoes. (v) Finally, I pick up my bag and go out of my home.
In simple words: We used order words like 'First', 'After that', 'Then', 'Next', and 'Finally' to show the step-by-step routine of getting ready.

Exam Tip: Words like 'first', 'next', 'then', and 'finally' are called linkers. They help show the order of steps in any process.

Question 2. The children from different states each speak about one art form from their state. When they speak, they use the first form of the verb. It shows something that happens regularly. It is called the present tense. With he, she and it, -s/-es is used with the verb to show the present tense. Make five sentences with the help of the words given in the table below. Use -s/-es wherever necessary. Two examples are given.
Answer: Here are the completed sentences using correct present-tense verbs:

1. I know how to dance.
2. He speaks very loudly.
3. She makes paintings in free periods.
4. It practises spellings on Friday.
5. We ask questions to understand.
6. They draw a story every day.
In simple words: We matched the subjects with the correct present action words. Remember, singular subjects like 'he', 'she', and 'it' add 's' or 'es' to the verb.

Exam Tip: Plural subjects (I, we, you, they) take base verbs like 'ask' or 'know'. Singular subjects (he, she, it) take verbs ending in -s or -es like 'speaks' or 'makes'.

Let Us Listen

Question 1. Listen to the description of gakkad bharta and complete the notes given below. (refer to page 162 for transcript)
Answer: Here are the completed notes:

(a) Speaker's Name: Sushil
(b) Speaker's Hometown: Jabalpur
(c) State: Madhya Pradesh
(d) Dish Name: Gakkad Bharta
(e) Vegetables roasted for the bharta: Eggplants (brinjals) and tomatoes
In simple words: Sushil from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, describes a traditional dish called Gakkad Bharta, made with roasted brinjals and tomatoes.

Exam Tip: Listen carefully to proper nouns like cities (Jabalpur) and states (Madhya Pradesh) to complete factual worksheets accurately.

Question 2. Now, listen to the description again and complete the flowchart on how to make gakkad bharta.
Answer: Here are the completed recipe steps:

1. To make gakkad, make balls of wheat dough and roast them on high heat.
2. To make bharta, roast brinjal and tomatoes and garnish with chopped onions, coriander, green chillies and salt.
3. To serve, crumble the gakkad, put some bharta on it, and add one spoon of ghee.
In simple words: We filled in the recipe steps: first make wheat dough balls and roast them, then roast the eggplants and tomatoes, mix them with chopped onions, and serve with ghee.

Exam Tip: Flowcharts outline steps in an order. Use verbs (like 'roast' or 'chop') to describe actions in a process.

Let Us Speak

Question 1. Speak about a local art form of your region. It can be any one out of painting, rangoli, metal craft, embroidery, music, dance or drama.
Answer: I would like to speak about Pattachitra, a beautiful painting style from Odisha. To make this art, artists need cotton cloth, home-made natural paints, and thin brushes.

Here is how they create this amazing craft:
- First, they prepare the canvas by covering the cloth with a smooth paste of chalk and gum.
- Next, they let the cloth dry completely.
- After that, they draw the outlines of gods and nature stories using a very fine brush.
- Then, they fill the drawings with bright colors made from ground stones and plants.
- Finally, they add tiny details and apply a shiny coat of lacquer to keep the painting safe.
In simple words: Pattachitra is a traditional cloth painting from Odisha where artists draw natural stories using home-made organic colors.

Exam Tip: When giving a speech, structure your thoughts with sequence words (like 'first', 'next', 'then', and 'finally') to make it easy to follow.

Question 2. You may use the words given below when you speak.
• I know about the art form called ...
• They need ...
• To make it, first ... after that ... next ... then ... at last ...
Answer: I would love to tell you about Kathakali, a famous dance-drama from Kerala. For this art, artists need heavy costumes, thick face paint, musical instruments, and a stage.

Here is how they perform:
- First, the dancers put on large green and red skirts and heavy gold headdresses.
- After that, they spend hours applying colorful, thick makeup to their faces to show different characters.
- Next, the musicians set up their drums and cymbals on the stage.
- Then, the dancers act out ancient legends using only eye movements, hand gestures, and dance steps.
- At last, the grand show ends with an exciting battle scene!
In simple words: Kathakali is a colorful dance from Kerala where performers wear large crowns and tell stories through their eyes and hand gestures.

Exam Tip: Use descriptive terms (like 'heavy costumes' or 'eye movements') to paint a clear picture for your listeners.

Let Us Write

Question. You heard children from different states speak about the art forms from their state. Discuss in pairs which art form you liked the most. Now, write a paragraph with five sentences giving your reasons for liking it.
Answer: I loved the Dhokra metal art from Odisha the most. It is amazing that people have been making these brass figures for over four thousand years. I like how they use a special clay mold and beeswax to shape the metal. The final animal and human figures look beautiful, with lots of tiny details. Each handmade piece is unique, which makes this ancient craft very special.
In simple words: Dhokra is a wonderful, four-thousand-year-old metal art made with clay molds, and every single piece is unique and beautiful.

Exam Tip: Give clear reasons (like its history, material, or unique design) to explain why a particular craft is your favorite.

Let Us Explore

Question 1. Madhubani painting is a traditional art form from Bihar. The artists use natural colours to make them on the walls of their houses. You can also make and use natural colours as given below.
Answer: This is a creative painting activity. You can color the given drawing of birds and flowers using paints made from natural ingredients like turmeric (yellow) and crushed green leaves (green).
In simple words: Madhubani art from Bihar uses colors made from nature, like yellow from turmeric, to paint beautiful pictures of birds and forests.

Exam Tip: Madhubani paintings always have bold black outlines and are filled with bright, simple colors.

Question 2. Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Programme
Bharat has diverse languages, cuisines, music, dance, theatre, movies and films, handicrafts, sports, literature, festivals, paintings, sculptures, etc. The Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme aims to enhance interaction and promote mutual understanding between people of different states/UTs through the concept of state/UT pairing. This is to celebrate the unity in diversity and strengthen the emotional bonds between its citizens. The vision is to enable people to develop a sense of common identity by sharing best practices and experiences. The programme aims to contribute to nation building by highlighting the inter-connectedness between various cultures and traditions.
Answer: This program brings people from different states together to help them understand each other's lives and cultures. By linking different regions, it teaches us that despite our different languages and arts, we are one big family. It helps build a strong, united India by sharing our best local practices and beautiful traditions.
In simple words: The Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat program pairs different states so students can share their art, food, and culture, and make India united and strong.

Exam Tip: Focus on how state-pairing builds friendships and shows that all Indians are connected.