Why Does Mum Put a Tilak on Me?Coming soon
Soon
Why Does Mum Put a Tilak on Me?
A mark between the eyebrows, and what it protects.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+
from$1.99
By collection
Why We Do That
Start with a question from everyday family life: a greeting, a meal, a name or a celebration. This shelf is a place to explore a custom while leaving room for families who do things differently.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 277
The complete collection
Why We Do That
Start with a question from everyday family life: a greeting, a meal, a name or a celebration. This shelf is a place to explore a custom while leaving room for families who do things differently.
- Series
- 16
- Books
- 277
- Published
- 0
Included in this collection
The collection option covers the books across all series below. Digital reading and available narration are included; print is separate. Check each book page for age editions, Book/Ebook previews and language availability.
The whole collection is not yet available to purchase. The listed price is shown; release and purchase dates are not confirmed. Annual membership covers the available digital library.
Explore all included series ↓Choose your first collection
At Home With Dharma
Everyday things children see around the house.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 16
Greetings, Respect & Family
Namaste, touching feet, Kaki, Masi, Foi and Mami.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 13
Going to the Mandir
Shoes off, the bell, darshan, prasad, aarti.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 19
Series · 16
What We Wear
Tilak, bindi, sari, kurta, rakhi, mehndi.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 13
Why We Eat This
Prasad, fasting, modak, kheer, thepla for every journey.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 18
My Indian Name & My Identity
What my name means, two languages, two homes.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 21
Our Family
My very big Indian family.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 14
Why We Celebrate
Why our family actually does all these things.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 35
Weddings & Big Ceremonies
My first Indian wedding.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 19
When a Baby Arrives
Namkaran, annaprashan, mundan.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 12
Prayer, Mantras & Practices
The mala, Om, bhajan, seva.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 16
Big Ideas for Little Minds
Dharma, karma, ahimsa, seva, shanti.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 20
Nature Is Sacred
The cow, the Ganga, the peepal, and every deity's animal friend.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 19
Growing Up Indian Abroad
British AND Indian. Christmas AND Diwali.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 22
Ask Dadi
Aarav watches Dadi light the diya. One day he asks.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 10
Ask Dada
Wisdom, history and the big questions.
Published: 0 · In catalogue: 10
Matching stories: 277
- What Is a Chandlo?Coming soonSoonWhat Is a Chandlo?
The Gujarati word for the mark on the forehead.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do Some People Wear a Bindi?Coming soonSoonWhy Do Some People Wear a Bindi?
A dot that is older than fashion.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Does Dadi Wear a Sari?Coming soonSoonWhy Does Dadi Wear a Sari?
Six yards, a hundred ways.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Does Mum Wear Bangles?Coming soonSoonWhy Does Mum Wear Bangles?
The sound of bangles in the kitchen.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do Brides Wear Red?Coming soonSoonWhy Do Brides Wear Red?
The colour of a beginning.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Does Papa Wear a Kurta?Coming soonSoonWhy Does Papa Wear a Kurta?
Long, loose and cool.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - What Is a Dhoti?Coming soonSoonWhat Is a Dhoti?
One cloth, no stitches.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do Some Men Wear a Sacred Thread?Coming soonSoonWhy Do Some Men Wear a Sacred Thread?
The janeu and the upanayana.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 
What Is a Rakhi?A thread that says 'I will look after you'.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99- Why Do We Wear New Clothes for Festivals?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Wear New Clothes for Festivals?
New clothes, new year, new start.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Does the Bride Have Mehndi?Coming soonSoonWhy Does the Bride Have Mehndi?
Patterns that take all night.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do We Decorate Our Hands With Henna?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Decorate Our Hands With Henna?
Leaves, paste, cone, art.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Don't We Eat Meat on Certain Days?Coming soonSoonWhy Don't We Eat Meat on Certain Days?
Different families, different days; what ours does and why.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Why Is Our Family Vegetarian?Coming soonSoonWhy Is Our Family Vegetarian?
Ahimsa on a plate.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do We Offer Food Before Eating It?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Offer Food Before Eating It?
Naivedya at home.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - What Is Prasad? (At Home)Coming soonSoonWhat Is Prasad? (At Home)
The laddu on the shrine.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do We Fast?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Fast?
Upvas: a day of less.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Why Does Dadi Fast on Ekadashi?Coming soonSoonWhy Does Dadi Fast on Ekadashi?
The eleventh day of the moon.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Why Do We Eat Farali Food?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Eat Farali Food?
Sabudana, singhara, fruit: food for a fasting day.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do We Break a Coconut?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Break a Coconut?
A hard shell, a sweet inside.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do We Give Sweets When Something Good Happens?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Give Sweets When Something Good Happens?
Mithai for a new job, a new baby, a good report.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Is Ghee Special?Coming soonSoonWhy Is Ghee Special?
Golden, warm, in the lamp and in the roti.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Is Milk Used in Puja?Coming soonSoonWhy Is Milk Used in Puja?
The abhishek and the cow.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do We Eat Modak for Ganesha?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Eat Modak for Ganesha?
Ganesha's favourite sweet.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+🐘from$1.99 - Why Do We Eat Ladoo at Celebrations?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Eat Ladoo at Celebrations?
Round and golden, like a good day.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do We Make Kheer?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Make Kheer?
Rice, milk and patience.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do We Eat Different Foods During Different Festivals?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Eat Different Foods During Different Festivals?
Til for Sankranti, gujiya for Holi, modak for Ganesha.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Does Gujarati Food Taste Sweet and Spicy?Coming soonSoonWhy Does Gujarati Food Taste Sweet and Spicy?
Jaggery meets chilli.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do We Eat Khichdi When We're Not Well?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Eat Khichdi When We're Not Well?
The gentlest plate in the house.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Does Dadi Make Thepla for Every Journey?Coming soonSoonWhy Does Dadi Make Thepla for Every Journey?
Because a train is long and thepla keeps.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do I Have an Indian Name?Coming soonSoonWhy Do I Have an Indian Name?
A name that came from far away and fits just right.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - What Does My Name Mean?Coming soonSoonWhat Does My Name Mean?
Every Indian name is a small wish.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do I Have Two Names?Coming soonSoonWhy Do I Have Two Names?
The name at school and the name at home.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Does Dadi Pronounce My Name Differently?Coming soonSoonWhy Does Dadi Pronounce My Name Differently?
Same name, different music.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do Some Hindu Names Come From Bhagwan?Coming soonSoonWhy Do Some Hindu Names Come From Bhagwan?
Krishna, Lakshmi, Arjun, Sita.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Was I Named After Krishna?Coming soonSoonWhy Was I Named After Krishna?
A name chosen with love.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+🪈from$1.99 - What Is a Nakshatra Name?Coming soonSoonWhat Is a Nakshatra Name?
The star you were born under.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 7-12+from$1.99 - Why Do I Speak English at School and Gujarati at Home?Coming soonSoonWhy Do I Speak English at School and Gujarati at Home?
Two languages, one child.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Does Dadi Speak Gujarati to Me?Coming soonSoonWhy Does Dadi Speak Gujarati to Me?
The language of her lap.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Should I Learn My Family's Language?Coming soonSoonWhy Should I Learn My Family's Language?
So the stories can find you.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Can't Dadi Say Some English Words?Coming soonSoonWhy Can't Dadi Say Some English Words?
And why that is fine.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Can't I Say Some Gujarati Words?Coming soonSoonWhy Can't I Say Some Gujarati Words?
And why that is fine too.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Am I British or Indian?Coming soonSoonAm I British or Indian?
You can be both.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Can I Have Two Homes?Coming soonSoonCan I Have Two Homes?
Yes.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - India Is My Family's Home TooComing soonSoonIndia Is My Family's Home Too
A map with two hearts on it.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Do We Visit India?Coming soonSoonWhy Do We Visit India?
Airports, aunties, mangoes.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99 - Why Does India Feel Familiar and Different?Coming soonSoonWhy Does India Feel Familiar and Different?
Both at once.
From the original text · Family tradition, with its sources
Ages 0-3+from$1.99
Reading this collection together
- Start with one episode
- Choose the question the child actually asked, then look for a published entry. Keep the conversation short enough for another question to fit.
- What to notice
- Say ‘in our family’ when sharing your own practice. A familiar custom should not become a claim about what every Indian family does.
- A question to share
- How does someone else in the family remember this? Let two memories sit together without choosing a winner.