Sumo wrestling

As we read in our world history book about the Japanese samurai warriors, we learned that in times of peace, the noblemen used to keep their samurais busy by engaging them in sumo wrestling. The practice of sumo wrestling allowed Japanese warriors to fight without blades or bloodshed. We learned some of the sumo wrestling rules and made our own sumo wrestling game!

Here's what we did:
1) We used the elongaged circle (more of an oval actually) of our carpet as our sumo wrestling ring (called dohyo by samurais).
2) We prepared ourselves by tying pillows on our fronts and backs, in order to look somewhat like the very heavy sumo wrestlers.
3) Hafsa was offered to make the traditional sumo fighter hair-style, which is putting all the hair in a knot on the top of the head, by she shyly declined the offer... oh well...

Here are some of the sumo wrestling rituals we did:
1) We (both wrestlers - Uzair and Hafsa) paraded into the ring from the opposite sides (actually sumo wrestlers are supposed to have also two attendants each, which we didn't have).
2) We squatted at the oppostie ends of the ring, stretched our our hands and clapped once - this is called the chirichozu ritual. 
3) We performed shiko ritual - exaggerated foot stamping on each leg to drive away the bad spirits.
4) We took a sip of water each - to purify ourselves.
5) We were supposed to throw a handful of salt into the ring each, but since our mom wasn't very happy about this ritual, so we didn't do it.
6) We went to the middle of the ring, clenched fists, crouched down and glared at each other, with the goal of breaking the opponent's focus.
7) We started the wrestling, the goal of which is to push the opponent out of the sumo ring.

We also learned that, according to some experts, thumb wrestling is a form of "mini-sumo".

When Asma saw Uzair and Hafsa getting ready, she came carrying
her own pillow as well and insisted on 'getting ready' for it.



We (both wrestlers - Uzair and Hafsa) paraded into the ring
from the opposite sides (actually sumo wrestlers are supposed
to have also two attendants each, which we didn't have).

 

We squatted at the oppostie ends of the ring, stretched our our hands
and clapped once - this is called the chirichozu ritual.

We performed shiko ritual - exaggerated foot stamping
on each leg to drive away the bad spirits.

We took a sip of water each - to purify ourselves.

We went to the middle of the ring, clenched fists,
crouched down and glared at each other, with
the goal of breaking the opponent's focus.

We started the wrestling, the goal of which is
to push the opponent out of the sumo ring.

 

Peanut art

We love the cool and mild winters of Karachi and all the local winter joys that come along with it: chicken-corn soup, dried fruits, kastoori milk, cofee, coffee, coffee. One of our family's favourite winter snacks is baked in hot sand peanuts. As we shell them, feeling their warmth at our fingertips, the entire room fills with an absolutely delicious fragrance! Even Asma (almost 2 yrs) insists on shelling her own peanuts, while Uzair has come up with a creative artistic expression - he breaks the peanut shells into perfect halves, which he then arranges into a house formation.

Unlike the rest of us, who eat as we shell them, Uzair saves his peanuts for later - enjoying them nearly all at once in a big mouthful. As you can see below, our piles of peanut shells stand nowhere close to Uzair's careful arrangement. :)

Cleaning the peas

Winter is the season of fresh green peas in Karachi. We buy them in kgs, clean them and freeze them for use in the summer months. The cleaning is usually a group type of activity, although not a very popular one, since sitting for prolonged periods of time at one place is considered as punishment by kids. :) This year, Asma (not 2 yrs yet) has also joined the peas-cleaning-team and with very serious efforts, does her best to help us. Amazingly, her tiny fingers are doing excellent work. :)

 

Allah (swt) made us all

Asma doesn't stop to surprise us with the wonderful intelligence Allah (swt) has granted her at her young baby age. Truly, Allah (swt) is our Creator and bestows on us a natural yearning to follow Him.

Yesterday, Mamma was making tea in the kitchen. We do have now one of our uncles (Moin Chacha) living with us in a separate portion of our home, which we access through a separate door. When tea was ready, Mamma said: "Let's give tea to Moin Chacha." On hearing this, Asma disappeared from kitchen and came back carrying from room Mamma's big Chadar, which she uses for covering herself, when passing on something to Moin Chacha. We were so taken aback by her intelligence! Asma is just 1,7 yrs old but already has understood the basic guidelines Muslim ladies have for covering themselves. :)

Likewise, it is enough for us to say to Asma: "Let's pray," and she goes off bringing to us the prayer mats and the prayer clothes Mamma uses when she prays. Asma herself also loves to do her 'prayers' along with us, following us in every position as we do it. And very often, she loves to do some mischief as well - to disturb us in a thousand creative ways, when we do our prayers. :)

 

Karachi spring

One lazy afternoon, Uzair was complaining of nothing to do. So Mom decided to send him on a secret mission. She gave him a camera and told to go outside in our lane to take photos of all the spring flowers he manages to find. Here you can see what he came up with.

The solar system model

We really enjoyed reading "Space Explorers" book from "The Magic School Bus" series and learned a lot about the planets of the solar system. We made a project of our own solar system, as close in size and color to the actual planets as we could. This one in made by Hafsa.

The project: recyclable A4 paper mashed into balls and painted by water colours, cover of a pizza box.

The shoes age

Yep, Asma has reached "the shoes age" - that bugging curiosity of fitting her little feet into any shoes she spots around the home.