Unit 5 Overview — Culture and Tradition

Culture and Tradition is a rich and meaningful unit that introduces students to the beauty of Bharat’s cultural diversity. It shows how different languages, festivals, art forms, crafts, food habits, stories, poems and national symbols create a shared sense of belonging. The unit teaches that Bharat is one nation with many colours, voices and traditions.

The unit begins with Hamara Bharat — Incredible India!, which describes Bharat as a land of wise and heroic people, rich culture, rivers, mountains, forests and unity in diversity. It then moves to Kalakritiyon ka Bharat, where children from different states share traditional art forms such as Aipan, Dhokra, coconut shell craft and Kondapalli toys. The poem The Kites celebrates imagination, freedom and joy. The inspiring story Ila Sachani: Embroidering Dreams with her Feet teaches determination and creativity. The unit ends with the National War Memorial, reminding students to honour the sacrifice of brave soldiers.

Section	Type	Main Idea
Hamara Bharat — Incredible India!	Introductory Passage	Bharat is a land of wisdom, bravery, natural beauty and unity in diversity.
Kalakritiyon ka Bharat	Informative Text	Different Indian states have unique traditional art forms and crafts.
The Kites	Poem	The child imagines flying high on a kite and looking down at the world.
Ila Sachani	Inspirational Story	Challenges can be turned into victories through focus, support and hard work.
National War Memorial	Patriotic Poem	The nation remembers and honours the sacrifice of brave soldiers.

1. Hamara Bharat — Incredible India!

Short Summary

Hamara Bharat — Incredible India! describes Bharat as a land known across the world for wise and heroic people. Its rich and diverse culture has attracted travellers since ancient times. The people of Bharat live together in unity despite differences in language, region, food, dress and tradition. This is called unity in diversity.

The passage also highlights Bharat’s natural beauty. The country has rivers, lakes, high mountains and green forests. These forests are home to many plants, insects, birds and animals. The passage advises the people of Bharat to work hard so that the country continues to prosper and remains respected globally.

Let us Discuss — Answers

Q1. What has Bharat always been known for?

Answer: Bharat has always been known as a land of wise and heroic individuals.

Q2. What is attractive about Bharat?

Answer: Bharat’s rich and diverse culture is attractive. Its unity in diversity, natural beauty and traditions have attracted many travellers since ancient times.

Q3. What is special about the fact that people live here in unison?

Answer: It is special because people of different cultures, languages and traditions live together as one nation. This presents unity in diversity to the world.

Q4. What geographical features does the passage mention?

Answer: The passage mentions rivers, lakes, high mountains and green forests.

Q5. What is the advice given to everyone?

Answer: The advice is that all inhabitants of Bharat should continue working hard and make sure that the country prospers.

2. Kalakritiyon ka Bharat — Notes and Solutions

Before Reading — Vowel Completion

Incomplete Word	Correct Word
f __ l k __ r t	folk art
c __ l t __ r e	culture
f __ s t __ v __ l s	festivals
h __ s t __ r y	history
l __ g __ n d s	legends
l __ n g __ a g __ s	languages

Short Summary

Kalakritiyon ka Bharat presents the cultural richness of India through traditional art forms from different states. The text is presented as part of the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme. The students learn that although people belong to different states and cultures, they share one national identity.

Children from different states explain the art forms of their regions. Aakansha from Uttarakhand speaks about Aipan, a folk art made with rice flour paste and geru. Priyaranjan from Odisha describes Dhokra, a 4000-year-old metal craft. Chitra from Kerala talks about coconut shell craft, which is biodegradable. Balamurali from Andhra Pradesh explains Kondapalli toys, made from soft wood and coloured beautifully.

Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat — Answer

Q1. What is the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme all about?

Answer: It is about understanding that all people of Bharat belong to one nation. It celebrates unity in diversity and strengthens the bond shared by people of different states and cultures.

Q2. Why is this programme being conducted?

Answer: The programme is being conducted to help students know different cultures, traditions and art forms of Bharat and to promote mutual understanding among people of different states.

Art Forms Table — Complete Answer

Name of Child	State	Art Form	Things Needed
Aakansha	Uttarakhand	Aipan	White rice flour paste, geru, walls and floors
Priyaranjan	Odisha	Dhokra	Clay, brass scrap, wax and fire
Chitra	Kerala	Coconut shell craft	Coconut shell, sandpaper or machine, base and wood polish
Balamurali	Andhra Pradesh	Kondapalli	Soft wood, makku, colours, vegetable dyes and enamel paints

Let us Think and Reflect — Answers

Q1. The designs for Aipan are taken from ______ and ______.

Answer: The designs for Aipan are taken from cultural traditions and observations of nature.

Q2. Dhokra metal craft is very old because it is ______ old.

Answer: Dhokra metal craft is very old because it is 4000 years old.

Q3. A base is needed for coconut shell craft to make it ______.

Answer: A base is needed for coconut shell craft to make it stable.

Q4. Soft wood, ______ and colours are used to make Kondapalli toys.

Answer: Soft wood, makku and colours are used to make Kondapalli toys.

Q5. Why does Aakansha’s family make Aipan?

Answer: Aakansha’s family makes Aipan on family functions and festivals. It is made on floors, puja room walls and outside the main door as part of their cultural tradition.

Q6. In Dhokra, why does wax come out of the small openings?

Answer: In Dhokra, the clay-covered figure is put in fire. The wax melts because of heat and comes out through small openings, leaving empty space for liquid metal.

Q7. What is common in Kondapalli toys and coconut shell craft?

Answer: Both are handmade crafts made from natural materials. Both also need shaping, finishing and colouring or polishing.

Listening Practice — Gakkad Bharta Answers

Name of the speaker	Sushil
Town	Jabalpur
State	Madhya Pradesh
Food item	Gakkad Bharta
Vegetables roasted for bharta	Brinjal and tomatoes

Flowchart Answer: To make gakkad, make balls of wheat dough and roast them on high heat. To make bharta, roast brinjal and tomatoes and garnish with chopped onions, coriander, green chillies and salt. To serve, crumble the gakkad, put some bharta on it and add one spoon of ghee.

3. The Kites — Poem Summary and Solutions

About the Poem

The Kites is a beautiful poem by Daphne Lister. The poem presents the imagination of a child who watches colourful kites flying high in the sky. The child wishes to become small and light so that they could climb on a kite and fly above the town. The poem is full of imagination, movement, joy and freedom.

Short Summary

The child sees kites flying high in the wind. The kites look like colourful birds in the sky. The child wishes to be small and light like air so that they could climb on a kite and sail high above. The child imagines drifting on the paper wings of the kite and hearing the song of the wild wind. From above, the child would look down over parks and rooftops. People below would stare and wish to be high in the air too.

True / False — Answers

Statement	Answer
The child is looking at the kites.	True
The kites look like birds of different colours.	True
It was a rainy day.	False
The child wants to be like a kite.	False
The child wishes to climb on a kite.	True
The kite is made of cloth and plastic.	False
The child wants to ride the kite.	True
The child knows they would have fun.	True
The child wants to look at the kite from a rooftop.	False
The child would like to look at people down below.	True
The child knows that the people would stare.	True

Poetic Devices

Device	Example / Explanation
Simile	The kites are compared to coloured birds. The child also wishes to be light as air.
Alliteration	Repeated consonant sounds, such as in phrases with similar starting sounds, make the poem musical.
Imagery	The poem helps us imagine colourful kites, wind, rooftops, parks and people below.

Let us Discuss — Answers

Q1. The kites have been compared to birds because they ______.

Answer: The kites have been compared to birds because they fly high in the sky and move beautifully in the wind.

Q2. The child wishes to be as ______ as ______.

Answer: The child wishes to be as light as air. The child wishes this to be able to climb on a kite and fly.

Q3. Do similes help us imagine better?

Answer: Yes, similes help us imagine better because they compare an unfamiliar idea with a familiar image. When kites are compared to coloured birds, we can imagine them moving freely in the sky.

Q4. In the last stanza, which two words are repeated?

Answer: The two repeated words are high, high. They show that the kite is flying very high.

Let us Think and Reflect — Answers

Q1. Circle the word that does not share the same feeling as ‘fun’: joy, excitement, care, happiness.

Answer: care

Q2. Which line tells us that the poet was somewhere above?

Answer: The line “To look right down” tells us that the poet imagines being somewhere above.

Q3. Which scene did the child see?

Answer: The child saw the scene of the park and rooftops of the town from above.

Q4. How does the poet describe the kites in the first two lines?

Answer: The poet describes the kites as flying high in the air like coloured birds.

Q5. Why does the child say that they have to climb a tree first to get onto the kite?

Answer: The child says this because the kite is already high above the ground. Climbing a tree would help the child reach the kite in imagination.

Q6. What are the songs that the child hears when flying atop the kite?

Answer: The songs are the sounds of the wild wind. The child imagines the wind as singing while the kite flies.

Q7. Why did the people look up at the child and stare?

Answer: The people looked up and stared because they saw a child flying high on a kite. It was a surprising and wonderful sight.

Q8. If you were the kite carrying the child high up in the air, what would you tell them?

Answer: I would tell the child to enjoy the beautiful view, stay calm and feel the freedom of the sky.

Parts of a Kite — Conversation Answers

Bina: I like the long tail at the end of my kite. Saroj: My kite’s cover is bright. The spine is black. Bina: My kite’s line is attached to the reel. Saroj: The tip of a kite is called a nose.

Cinquain Poem Example

Kite Festival Listening — Correct Answers

June	January
Eastern India	Western India
Maharashtra	Rajasthan
Earth Day	Independence Day

4. Ila Sachani: Embroidering Dreams with her Feet

Short Summary

Ila Sachani: Embroidering Dreams with her Feet is an inspiring story of courage, determination and creativity. Ila Sachani was born in Amreli, Gujarat, into a farmer’s family. She was born with her hands hanging loose by her sides and could not use them in the usual way. As a child, she wanted to do things like other children, but she faced a great challenge.

Ila’s mother and grandmother encouraged her and decided to teach her the traditional art of Kathiawar embroidery. Since she could not use her hands, Ila learned to create beautiful embroidery using her feet. It was very difficult, especially threading a needle, but Ila did not give up. Her family supported her, and she learned many embroidery styles such as Kachhi, Kashmiri and Lucknawi.

At first, Ila made designs for her family and friends. Soon, her talent became known in the village. Later, her work was displayed at a state exhibition. People admired and bought her creations. Ila became famous and received awards and honours, including the President’s Medal. Her story teaches that challenges can be turned into victories through focus, hard work, positivity and never giving up.

Main Ideas and Supporting Details

Paragraph	Main Idea	Supporting Details
1	Introduction to Ila Sachani’s colourful embroidery	Cushions, bedcovers and pillows; shiny needle and beautiful designs
2	Early challenges and family background	Born in a farmer’s family; could not use her hands in the usual way
3	Family support and learning embroidery	Mother and grandmother encouraged her; she learned to create patterns with her feet
4	Becoming skilled through determination	Threading a needle was hard; she learned many embroidery styles
5	Recognition in the village	Family and friends admired her work; villagers discovered her skill
6	Recognition at a state exhibition	Government office displayed her samples; people purchased her creations
7	National fame and awards	She participated in national exhibitions; received awards and the President’s Medal
8–9	Independence and power of art	Financial independence and joy; challenges can become victories

Let us Think and Reflect — Answers

Q1. ‘Unlike other children’ means that Ila was ______.

Answer: different

Q2. What could Ila have felt when she could not join others in things they did?

Answer: Ila might have felt sad, lonely and helpless when she could not join other children. She may also have felt a strong desire to do things like them.

Q3. Ila could not draw figures on the slate because ______.

Answer: Ila could not draw figures on the slate because she could not use her hands in the usual way.

Q4. What creative ways did Ila and her family use to overcome the challenges?

Answer: Ila’s mother and grandmother taught her to do embroidery with her feet. Her parents also helped her learn daily tasks like eating and combing her hair with her legs.

Q5. How did ‘new independence’ help Ila?

Answer: New independence helped Ila earn a regular income and find joy in doing what she loved. It gave her confidence and dignity.

Q6. Why was the first state exhibition important in Ila’s life?

Answer: The first state exhibition was important because it gave Ila public recognition. People saw, admired and bought her work. It opened new doors for her career.

Q7. What does the sentence “art has the power to rise above physical boundaries and touch the soul” tell us?

Answer: It tells us that art is not limited by physical challenges. True creativity can inspire people deeply and connect with their emotions.

Q8. How can we be helpful like Ila’s family and friends?

Answer: We can encourage people facing challenges, support their efforts, give them confidence and focus on their abilities instead of their limitations.

Q9. How can Ila’s story help others?

Answer: Ila’s story can inspire others to stay positive, work hard and never give up. It shows that determination can turn challenges into achievements.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Word	Synonym	Antonym
tiny	small	huge
wonderful	fantastic	terrible
quiet	silent	noisy
task	work	pastime
tough	difficult	easy

Quantity Words — Answers

The highlighted quantity words such as lots of, many, much, a lot of, few, little show quantity. Some are used with countable nouns, some with uncountable nouns, and some with both.

• We saw many buses on the road.
• How much milk do you want?
• There is little milk needed.
• I need a few examples.
• I have a little energy left.
• She picked some flowers.
• I ate some rice.

Kathiawar Embroidery Listening — Correct Answers

Form — old; Colours — bright; Stitches — chain stitch; Seen on — children’s caps; Things used — small mirrors; Designs — squares and triangles.

5. National War Memorial — Summary and Explanation

Short Summary

National War Memorial is a patriotic poem about the National War Memorial in New Delhi. The memorial was established in February 2019 by the Government of India to honour brave soldiers. The poem describes the memorial as a grand place where the stories of courage and sacrifice are remembered with respect.

The poem reminds us that soldiers protect Bharat on battlefields, in the skies and across the oceans. Their names, stories and sacrifices are remembered at the memorial. The eternal flame symbolises respect and gratitude. The poem asks us to always remember the courage and sacrifice of soldiers.

Important Points

• The National War Memorial is located in New Delhi.
• It was established in February 2019.
• It honours the brave soldiers of Bharat.
• The eternal flame represents courage, sacrifice and remembrance.
• The poem teaches patriotism, gratitude and respect.

Important Vocabulary from Unit 5

Word	Meaning	Use in Sentence
Unison	Togetherness	People live in unison in Bharat.
Diversity	Variety	India is known for unity in diversity.
Geru	Red clay used as colour	Aipan is made on walls coloured with geru.
Carve	To make a design with a sharp tool	The artist carved the design carefully.
Biodegradable	Not harmful to the environment	Coconut shell craft is biodegradable.
Drift	To move slowly with air or water	The kite drifted in the sky.
Awestruck	Amazed	People were awestruck by Ila’s talent.
Determination	Willpower	Ila succeeded through determination.
Homage	Respect shown publicly	The memorial pays homage to soldiers.
Sacrifice	Giving up something valuable for a cause	We remember the sacrifice of brave soldiers.

Grammar and Language Practice

1. Sequence Words

Sequence words show the order of actions. Examples: first, then, after that, next, finally, at last.

How I Get Ready for School — Answer:

First, I get up and go to take a shower. Then, I wear my school dress. After that, I eat my food. Next, I wear my shoes. Finally, I pick up my bag and go out of my home.

2. Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense is used to talk about habits, facts and regular actions. With he, she and it, we usually add -s or -es to the verb.

• I know how to dance.
• We ask questions to understand.
• You draw beautiful flowers.
• He tells a story every day.
• She speaks very loudly.
• They make paintings in free periods.
• It practises spellings on Friday.

3. Simile

A simile compares two things using like or as. In “The Kites”, kites are compared to coloured birds, and the child wishes to be as light as air.

4. Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words. Examples: big bright bag, funny fan, silver sky, pretty paper.

MCQ Practice Test — Unit 5 Culture and Tradition

1. Bharat has been known worldwide as a land of _______.
   A. only mountains   B. wise and heroic individuals   C. deserts only   D. one language
2. The phrase “unity in diversity” means _______.
   A. people are all the same   B. people live together despite differences   C. no culture exists   D. only one tradition is followed
3. Aipan is a folk art from _______.
   A. Kerala   B. Uttarakhand   C. Odisha   D. Gujarat
4. Dhokra is a _______ craft.
   A. paper   B. coconut   C. metal   D. cloth
5. Coconut shell craft is called biodegradable because it _______.
   A. harms nature   B. does not harm the environment   C. is made of plastic   D. cannot be polished
6. Kondapalli toys are made from _______.
   A. soft wood   B. iron   C. glass   D. stone
7. In “The Kites”, the kites are compared to _______.
   A. clouds   B. coloured birds   C. flowers   D. stars
8. The child wishes to be as light as _______.
   A. stone   B. water   C. air   D. wood
9. The tip of a kite is called the _______.
   A. reel   B. nose   C. tail   D. cover
10. Ila Sachani was skilled in _______.
    A. Kathiawar embroidery   B. football   C. kite making   D. painting only
11. Ila learned embroidery with her _______.
    A. hands   B. feet   C. eyes only   D. voice
12. Ila received the _______.
    A. President’s Medal   B. cricket trophy   C. school badge   D. music award
13. The National War Memorial is located in _______.
    A. Jaipur   B. New Delhi   C. Mumbai   D. Chennai
14. The National War Memorial honours _______.
    A. traders   B. brave soldiers   C. only artists   D. only poets
15. “First, then, after that, finally” are examples of _______.
    A. sequence words   B. colours   C. pronouns   D. rhyming words

Answer Key

1-B, 2-B, 3-B, 4-C, 5-B, 6-A, 7-B, 8-C, 9-B, 10-A, 11-B, 12-A, 13-B, 14-B, 15-A

Writing Practice

Paragraph: The Art Form I Like the Most

Paragraph: I am a Kite

Paragraph: My Artwork

Short Speech: Unity in Diversity

Quick Revision Notes

• Unit Theme: Culture and Tradition
• Hamara Bharat: Bharat is known for wisdom, bravery, nature and unity in diversity.
• Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat: A programme to promote cultural understanding and national unity.
• Aipan: Folk art of Uttarakhand made with rice flour paste and geru.
• Dhokra: 4000-year-old metal craft from Odisha.
• Coconut shell craft: A biodegradable craft from Kerala.
• Kondapalli toys: Traditional toys from Andhra Pradesh made from soft wood.
• The Kites: A poem about imagination, freedom and joy.
• Ila Sachani: An inspiring artist who created embroidery with her feet.
• National War Memorial: A monument in New Delhi honouring brave soldiers.
• Grammar: Sequence words, simple present tense, simile, alliteration and quantity words.

Related Class 6 Study Links

FAQ — NCERT Class 6 English Poorvi Unit 5

Q1. What is the name of Class 6 English Poorvi Unit 5?

Answer: The name of Unit 5 is Culture and Tradition.

Q2. Which main sections are included in Unit 5?

Answer: Unit 5 includes Hamara Bharat — Incredible India!, Kalakritiyon ka Bharat, The Kites, Ila Sachani: Embroidering Dreams with her Feet and National War Memorial.

Q3. What is the main message of Hamara Bharat?

Answer: The main message is that Bharat is a land of wise and heroic people, rich culture, natural beauty and unity in diversity.

Q4. What is the poem The Kites about?

Answer: The poem is about a child’s imagination of flying high on a kite and looking down at the world below.

Q5. Who is Ila Sachani?

Answer: Ila Sachani is an inspiring artist from Gujarat who became famous for creating beautiful Kathiawar embroidery with her feet.

Q6. What does Ila Sachani’s story teach us?

Answer: Ila Sachani’s story teaches determination, creativity, family support, hard work and the power of never giving up.

Q7. What is the National War Memorial?

Answer: The National War Memorial is a national monument in New Delhi built to honour the brave soldiers of Bharat.

Q8. Is this article useful for exam revision?

Answer: Yes. It includes summaries, textbook-based answers, vocabulary, grammar practice, MCQs, writing tasks and quick revision notes.

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