The Indian peacock, [Pavo cristatus], the national bird of India, is a colourful, swan-sized bird, with a fan-shaped crest of feathers, a white patch under the eye and a long, slender neck.
The male of the species is more colourful than the female, with a glistening blue breast and neck and a spectacular bronze-green tail of around 200 elongated feathers.
The female is brownish, slightly smaller than the male and lacks the tail.
The peacock is a possessor of some of the most admired human characteristics, and is a symbol of integrity and the beauty we can achieve when we endeavor to show our true colors.
In Hinduism, peacock is portrayed as the image of the God of thunder, rains and war, Indra. In southern part of India, peacock is considered as a ‘vahana’ or vehicle of lord Muruga.
Suggested group activities:
Make a field visit to the habitat of Peacocks, enjoy its beauty and picturised through drawings and paintings.
As a group collect the fallen peacock feathers from the ground and discuss its utility (for example, Preparation of ‘Kavadi’ for Lord Murugan, feathers for dancers, hand fans)
