Unit 5
Reprint 2025-26
India is a place of diversity in terms of culture, language, food, traditions, etc. There are many stories unknown to us about the way of life of people.
In this lesson, you will explore various facets of India, including the Parsi community's cuisine, the coffee cultivation in Araku Valley, and much more that represents India's rich cultural tapestry.
In the 'Glimpses of India' (First Flight, Class X textbook, NCERT) you have read about interesting people and places. India is a place of diversity in terms of culture, language, food, traditions, etc. There are many stories unknown to us about the way of life of people.
Work in groups of four and find out about the following in any five Indian states.
Mark these five places on a map and represent the information highlighting the interesting facts.
Select five Indian states from the map below and note down key facts about their culture, cuisine, art forms, and other distinctive features.
Choose the correct sound word for each description:
1. The sound of water is described as:
2. The sound of leaves is described as:
3. The sound of an engine is described as:
You have read about -ing and -ed adjectives in the textbook. These are the present participles (-ing forms) and past participles (-ed forms) of verbs and are used as adjectives.
Fill in the blanks with past participle from one of the following words:
(infect, take, quote, use, watch, frighten, propose)
People demonstrated against the changes .
The loud cheer went up from the students .
After the editor read the article, she checked all the examples .
Rub the antiseptic cream in the area.
My wallet was among the things .
Cyclone Fani was a experience.
Some words have been wrongly spelt in the paragraph given below. Correct the words and write the correct word in the space provided:
The journey to the Valley of Flowers begins about 16 km away from Joshimath, at Govindghat (1,770 m) on the Rishikesh-Badrinath heightway. The Valley of Flowers is covered with a rich varity of magnifiscent plants.
Over the past few years, thousand of visitors have 'discovered' this idyll amidst the mountain. However, they live marks only by way of empty cans, waste-paper and cigarete butts. Trakking in the area has resulted in the trampling of these delikate plants by humans and ponies. As a result, the government of India was compeled to ban all mountaineering, trekking, expeditions and livestock grasing in the area, with effect from February 20, 1983. This is to privent further damage to one of our nation's unique repositories of natural beauty.
Ask your classmate or teacher to read aloud the following passage from the text 'Glimpses of India'. Listen carefully, and note down the keywords, main ideas and interesting expressions in your notebook while listening.
Excursions give opportunities to explore nature, places of historical interest, etc. Tourists are interested in meeting people, understanding their culture, and enjoying the variety in food.
In groups of four, discuss and plan a budget trip to Araku valley. You may keep the following in mind while planning. Add more points to the following as per your requirement.
Now, prepare an itinerary of your excursion to Araku valley and share with the class.
Infer the meaning of the following expressions in the passage on Parsi community. "Aavoji, aavo, aavo! Welcome to Delhi."
Now, write an account of a travel by train using these expressions. Describe the journey by giving details of distance, booking of tickets, facilities available, and suggestions for improvement. You can add pictures of places, people, etc.
The Frontier mail, the train mentioned in the passage on the Parsi community was the prestigious and luxurious train which was flagged off in 1928 from Bombay to Peshawar. It was the fastest train known for its punctuality. It covered the distance of 2,335 kms in record time of seventy two hours.
The train used to depart from Ballard Pier Mall Station at Bombay harbour for passengers arriving from England by ship and for the collection of mail brought in from steamers from Europe. It was fashionable to travel by Frontier Mail in those days!
Traditional breads are famous in Kashmir as well. It is said that a Kashmiri's day starts with a cup of piping hot nun chai (salty pink tea) and a crisp, freshly baked bread from the Kandur (the traditional baker). In Kashmir, the Kandur shop isn't just a place where one goes to buy the morning and evening breads, it is a social hub. It is a place where you get to hear and participate in discussions that range from gossip to political discourses.
Some of the Kashmiri breads include: