It’s been quite a few years now since we’ve visited India. This Diwali season is reminding me of all the festivities that happen especially at the front gate of our family’s home in India.

Here is a typical family’s lifestyle in India at the front gate including a few special events of a lifetime.

The Front Gate in India

Growing up in the United States in a typical suburban neighborhood, I never knew what it would be like to live in a big city and to have a home that needed a front gate. Then, twelve years ago, I married my husband who just happens to be from India.

Since then I’ve had the chance to visit five times to stay with his family in New Delhi, India. Here’s a peek at my latest trip to India.

As I look through my pictures I noticed that, on my first trip to India, my son’s first visit, and my daughter’s first experience, there were lots of pictures of the front gate to our family home. I thought it might be fun to take you on an adventure through the daily life of India from the Front Gate in a typical middle-income home in New Delhi, India.

Welcome

For the first time, you visit a home, many times you will find that there are garlands or marigolds and banana leaves hanging to welcome visitors. You feel so honored to be welcomed in such a manner.

There is also a special sign at the entrance of some homes with blessings and who resides in the home.

Animals Visit

We were so excited to see that many days the cows and other stray animals would roam from gate to gate looking for food treasures of the day. Many homes keep their scrap foods for the animals that pass. It’s a simple way of having no waste and providing a blessing to those around you.

We were very surprised to hear the noises that would come around the neighborhood with the wild monkeys who would pass through You have to be cautious when they are present and generally most residents will go into their homes and shut the doors so that no unwanted visitors will enter.

Vendors Visit

Each morning you awake to the sounds of vendors passing by with the various items that they are selling from their carts. We would go out and buy any fresh produce we wanted for our meals that day or the next day. Here’s a picture of my daughter buying bananas with her Dadi Ji from the vendor.

You begin to recognize the specific calls of each vendor to listen for as they walk down the streets of the community.

Daily Cleaning

We were fortunate enough that there was a local resident who our family pays to come to the gate each day and ring the bell to come and clean the house. She would sweep and mop the floors, even the outdoor area. It’s very dusty in New Delhi, India.

My daughter was fascinated by the brooms that our housekeeper would use. She had fun practicing on her own by the front gate.

Festivals

Diwali is the festival of lights for Hindus.I had the chance to visit India during this occasion and see how absolutely beautiful the streets become as they are all lit by candlelight and lights. Here’s the view from our front porch.

For additional Diwali Activities {click Here}

Gardening

There were so many little gardens inside of each gate as we passed through streets of India. Many are marigold plants that were growing from seeds from the marigolds that had dried from the festivals and temple offerings. You will also at times find a special plant called “The Money Plant” growing too.

Indian Weddings

When there is a marriage in the house the tradition is to hang lights on the front of the house. I know technically it’s not the front gate but it is something you’ll see. It’s absolutely one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen as you travel at night.

Here’s a picture of our home covered with bridal lights and one tired little flower girl and my husband.

When a groom leaves their home for a wedding they will usually leave with a baraat. A baraat can become a large procession, with its own band, dancers, and fireworks. The groom and his horse are covered in finery and do not usually take part in the dancing and singing.

As a bride, the front gate also becomes the last place they stop before going to their new home, oftentimes the groom’s parent’s home. I’ve been through the process twice in India and the feelings are overwhelming from the bridal party as blessings are shared. When the car pulls away slowly, the bride’s brothers and cousins will push the car signifying that they have given her a push ahead as she begins her new life with her husband.

Here’s a picture of my sister-in-law as she leaves our home as a new bride.

Safety in India

Unfortunately, the front gate is there to keep families safe. As with any large city you have to be aware of others and protect your family. I think that it was an eye-opener to me the very first time I went to India how much EVERYTHING needed to be locked up.

My daughter was really obsessed with the locks while we were there and had fun pretending to open them.

The Real India Gate

At the center of New Delhi stands the 42 m high “Arc-de-Triomphe” like archway in the middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French counterpart, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan War of 1919.

Here are some Books about India.

Thank you so much for joining me on my reflections on the front gates of India.

The more time I spend with my husband’s family and the more time in India we visit I feel like I grow in knowledge all the time. As I learn every day more and more about India I share them onto our India Pinterest Board. Come follow along !

Follow The Educators’ Spin On It’s board India Culture and Hindi Language on Pinterest.

You may also enjoy these activities about India for kids…

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I’ve found a special Holi book that your child will love for this festival too!

Learning about various traditions in other cultures is one thing I encourage all families to do with their children.  It helps us to grow and appreciate the diversity that exists in the world.  It gives our children knowledge and understanding that we are all different and similar in our own ways. One place special to our hearts is India.

This spring as we anticipate the arrival of spring blossoms and bulbs and warmer weather, there is one tradition that our family from India celebrates which is Holi.  It’s a Hindu celebration of color.

Holi Songs for Kids

Learning about a festival can be so much fun with songs.  I’ve previewed the following Holi songs for kids from youtube to show to your child.  They are each animated and are pretty short.  

The songs are perfect if you want to have a few friends over to learn about Holi and read the book Celebrate Holi With Me!  for a book playdate.

If you have a favorite Holi Song please share with me in the comment section below.  

Hindi Rhymes for Children on Holi festival

Happy Holi I Holi for kids | Jalebi Street

Holi Festival Mystery | Music Video | Mira, Royal Detective

GreenGoldKids – Holi Pichkari Party Special Song

Chhota Bheem – Rangon ki Bauchhaar | Holi Video

Holi Song on Shri Krishna

Happy Holi I Holi for kids | Jalebi Street

Holi Song For Children in Hindi

Holi Ki Masti | Bandar Mama

Rangbirangi Holi Song

Kids Holi Dance Tutorial

These holi songs for kids are featured from youtube and mom and teacher approved!

The Story of Holi for Kids

If you’re wanting a little bit more in terms of learning about Holi and the story behind it here is an animated video that shares the religious side of Holi.

What is Holi Festival? – Hindu Festival of Colour – Behind the News

Disclosure Affiliate links used to Amazon books.  

Holi Books for Kids

Explore this collection of adorable and colorful Holi Books for Kids.

Celebrate Holi With Me!  by Shoumi Sen

One thing I love to discover are songs and books about a festival.  This season I’ve found one special Holi book for kids that I want to tell you about. It’s called Celebrate Holi With Me!  

The author Shoumi Sen sent me a copy to read and share with you.  I recently shared a post about her other book Celebrate Durga Puja With Me.

Celebrate Holi with Me Book Review

The story Celebrate Holi With Me! is written through the eyes of the main character Riya who takes you on a colorful journey of how her family and friends celebrate holi.  It provides both kids and adults the abilities to learn about the traditions in India of now to celebrate Holi.  

The fact that it’s written in rhyme makes it that much more fun to read with your child.  

The pages are colorful and tell the many layers of ways families celebrate the special day of Holi.

Plus the story Celebrate Holi With Me!  includes the background of the story of Holi while learning the story of Prahlad and why we celebrate Holi.

For those just learning about this festival, it provides clarity through a story.  Did you know that the holiday signifies good over evil?

Celebrate Holi With Me!  by Shoumi Sen

To learn more about Holi you can visit the Multicultural Kids Blog where several moms have shared their Holi traditions with crafts and activities to celebrate the fun.

Want to learn more about India?  Check out my post about our visits to India and what you might see happening at our front Gate in India. 

Plus you can take a peek at our Indian Samosa Recipe with Mint Chutney to cook with your child.  Snacks are a big part of the celebration of Holi Too.

Supplies for celebrating Holi

Here’s a few suggestions if you’re planning to celebrate your own Holi with kids. Grab some colored powers and water guns on Amazon. I’ve linked them up for you to buy online and have shipped to you easily.

Don’t forget to GRAB a copy of Celebrate Holi With Me!  by Shoumi Sen on Amazon to add to your bookcase.

Holi Activities for kids

Here’s a peek at how our family celebrates Holi 

You can extend these Holi songs by

• making a Rangoli
• make a Holi T-shirt
• cook Samosas
• sing Holi songs
• read more Holi Books for Kids

Want to learn more about India? Here’s a peek from our view at our front gate in India.

In recent years there have been so many more diverse children’s books published. One of the topics that have grown in options is these colorful Holi books for kids.

Holi Books for Kids

One of my favorite holidays to celebrate with my family is Holi. A playful day full of colorful fun as we welcome spring. Here are some adorable Holi books to go along with this Hindu Festival of Color.

What is Holi

Holi marks the beginning of spring after a long winter, symbolic of the triumph of good over evil.

Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival, also known as the “Festival of Colours” and the “Festival of Spring”.

Holi is celebrated at the end of winter, on the last full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month marking the spring, making the date vary with the lunar cycle.

Here’s a colorful collection of children’s books about Holi!

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Let’s Celebrate Holi! by Ajanta Chakraborty

Festival of Colors by Surishtha and Kabir Sehgal

Celebrate Holi With Me! by Shoumi Sen

Happy Holi!: Celebrating the Festival of Colors by Chitra Soundar

My Holi: Colors of Cheer by Priya Kumari

Simba’s First Holi: A Holiday Book for Kids by H R

We Throw Color on Each Other! by Kavita G. Sahai

Amma Tell Me About Holi! by Bhakti Mathur

Why do we celebrate HOLI by Anitha Rathod

Holi Colors by Rina Singh

Dev and Ollie: Colour Carnival by Mrs Shweta Aggarwal

Rani Celebrates Holi by Anita Badhwar

Holi (Festivals Around the World) by Grace Jones

Holi (Celebrations in My World (Library) by Lynn Peppas

Crayola ® Holi Colors by Robin Nelson

Holi Hai! by Chitra Soundar

Holi by Rebecca Pettiford

Holi Activities for Kids

You can use these Song for Holi for Kids to go along with these colorful children’s books about Holi!

You can extend these Holi books by

• making a Rangoli
• make a Holi T-shirt
• cook Samosas
• sing Holi songs

Want to learn more about India? Here’s a peek from our view at our front gate in India.

Explore more Hindu Books for Kids

• Diwali Books for Kids
• Navratri Books for Kids
• Rakhi Books for Kids
• Durga Puja Book
• Books About India for Kids

Here are some of our favorite ways to decorate when we celebrate with friends as we celebrate Holi.

Looking for Holi Activities? Try these…

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

DIY Holi T-Shirt for Kids

We prepared for our Holi Color Fun this year by making our own Holi T-shirts. This way we can continue to wear them and remind us of all of our Colorful Fun for Holi.

It was literally made in just a few minutes but turned out to be a big hit with both of my girls and also our friends that came to join the fun.

We invited some friends for their very first Holi experience so we wanted to make it memorable.

We took a plain T-shirts and plain onsies for the babies and fabric paint. 

Then we found foam letters around the house to dip into the paint.  The best size for us were the foam letter we already had for other craft projects. My daughter dipped her letters in the paint and then placed them onto her shirt.

Once we started the color and water fun she was ready to have fun and get messy!

We got MESSY and had so much FUN! Even my 1 year old got into the FUN!

Holi is a holiday that surpasses our differences and focuses on the oneness of our humanity
~ Generation Ginger

We used Washable Finger Paints for the little ones to help with cleanup.

And made a special bucket for them to play with on water toys and water balloons.

(Use Caution Balloons are a choking hazards for small children, adult supervision at all times)

This is what you wear traditionally in India a White Solid Kurta Pyjama 

HOLI ~ The FESTIVAL OF COLORS

Background Info about Holi

Around the world, Hindus are celebrating Holi, the Festival of Colors. Holi is a popular springtime celebration observed on the last full moon of the lunar month.

Participants traditionally throw bright, vibrant powders at friends and strangers alike, celebrating the arrival of Spring, commemorating Krishna’s pranks, and allowing everyone a momentary freedom — a chance to drop their inhibitions and simply play and dance.

Celebrating Festivals from other countries is always a great way to connect to that culture and learn about new things!

Here’s our favorite Holi songs on youtube!

You know since we’re always putting the Educators’ Spin On It. I had to have an Activity to go with it!

So here it is, Make your Holi Color Book!

Make your Own Family Holi Book of Colors

1. Create a simple Color Book to remind us of all of our Colorful Fun!
2. Draw members of our family, one on each page. Then write a color word on each page.
3. Using a paint brush and water colors, splatter painted each page according to the color.

We’ve been working on Family Names and Color Words in Hindi so it was the perfect time to use both in our book!

Holi Books for Kids

Here are some books about Holi.

Celebrate Holi With Me! (From The Toddler Diaries)

Amma, Tell Me about Holi by Bhakti Mathur

Festival of Colors by Vashti Harrison

Holi Colors by Rina Singh

Want more Holi books for Kids? Explore these colorful children’s books about Holi!

What is Holi?

• Background of Holi & Activities from Putti Prapancha
• Videos of Holi collected by Gnaana
• Song about Holi

Festival Colors Holi High Quality Colors, 50 Gram Packets (Pack of 10)

Activities for Holi for Kids

• Bubble Paint Virtual Holi at Putti Prapancha
• Body Tracing and Paint Splatter from Putti Prapancha
• Rainy Day Chalk at Golden Gleam
• Make your own HOLI letters by Gnaana

Our Holi Friends!

Happy Holi from our Family to yours!