The Magic Bed

A lonely Indian Prince helps some wonderful characters in need. In return he gets the help he needs to go after the desires of his heart. But first, he has to pass a test to prove that he is worthy. Guess who helps him do that?

About this Episode

Snoriezzz, a children’s mindful bedtime podcast and part of the GoKidGo universe of shows for kids, is co-created and co-hosted by Academy Award Winning actor Marcia Gay Harden (she/her), and actor and comedian Natalie Peyton (she/her). Building love of self and love of sleep at the same time, the Snory godmothers use affirmations, calming routines, and a beautiful fairy tale to help you make bedtime the peaceful, bonding moment you need!

Snoriezzz Segments:

00:43 MINDFUL TALK

03:03 GROUNDING WITH YOUR SURROUNDINGS

04:22 SNORY MAGIC BED

22:42 CALM YOUR BODY MEDITATION

You can always revisit the affirmations, Snory, or meditations as your little one needs! We’ve provided the timing for each segment above.

Host/Snory godmother: Marcia Gay Harden (she/her)

Host/Snory godmother: Natalie Peyton (she/her)

Segment music composition: Nana Simopoulos (she/her)

Story music composition and foley: Sterling Steffen (he/him)

Editing: Sterling Steffen

Cover art: Eulie Scheel (they/them)

Production Manager: Kyle Dempsey (he/him)

Branding/marketing: Julitta Scheel (she/her)

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Get ready for Connect & Learn! Where you and your adult dive deeper into the Snoriezzz episodes you’ve heard at bedtime or naptime!

Deep Dive
Mindful Affirmations
Play + Learn
Science Tips

WELCOME TO INDIA BUT…WHERE IS INDIA ANYWAY?

In our story “The Magic Bed”, Snory godmothers Marcia and Natalie, and special guest Melanie, take us to the faraway and fantastic land of India. India is part of the continent of Asia. Look how far it is from the United States! In the first map, India is the yellow land way across the ocean from the USA. Can you see the red on the map above? All of that is India. Most of India forms a peninsula, which means it is surrounded by water on three sides (just like Denmark from “The Ugly Duckling” and Florida in the USA!) The highest mountain range in the WORLD is in India, it’s called the Himalayan Mountain Range. The land of India is bordered by the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea. More than 1.4 billion people live there, and with its majestic mountains, lively bazaars and exotic palaces, there is much to love about this beautiful nation.

But first, who were Prince Rajah and Princess Lalun?

The Prince Rajah was a young, humble prince who hunted and worked to provide for his family. He was a bit of a lonely young man, and he wasn’t happy with just being rich. He really wanted to get married, but he didn’t want to marry just anyone! No…he wanted a special life partner, he wanted a woman who would be his equal and speak her mind.

Meantime, Princess Lalune was a very smart and beautiful princess who lived far away from the Rajah, and she also wanted to marry. But she didn’t want to marry the boring old men her father King Afzal had picked for her, or the fancy men who came trying to win her heart, or any of the men who weren’t kind. She wanted to do cool things in her life! She wanted a special partner, someone who was kind and respected women, and someone who wanted her to help them rule. So she waited and waited for the right person to come along.

Fortunately, one day when he was out hunting, the Prince was kind to the Ant-King, and so the Ant-King helped the Prince by telling him where Princess Lalun lived.

When Princess Lalun met the Prince, she could tell he was very brave and kind, and she decided she wanted to marry him. But he had to go through certain tests to prove he was worthy of the Princess. Once he passed the tests, he could marry her! So basically, they were two royal young adults who wanted to be partners in ruling a beautiful country!

“The Magic Bed” is a folktale from India, but since it’s part of the oral tradition of storytelling, it was passed down through many generations, by word only, so we don’t know who actually first created the story! But we do know that the first person to publish it was a man named Hartwell James. Just like in other fairy tales we have listened to, (remember Goldilocks and the Three Bears?), you can find different versions of the story. This is common with folktales, and it’s super fun to see how stories change over time, and how they change depending on which country is telling them! Did you know that almost every country in the world has a version of the Cinderella story? You will get to hear the Chinese version later in our series, it’s called “Yeh Shen”. Fairy tales often have similar things in their stories, like talking animals, or a witch, or for instance, it’s very common for someone to have to pass a test so they can get married. Just like Prince Rajah! The Magic Bed is set in India, and the customs of the people and the uniqueness of the land make the story very special as we follow the Prince through the jungle and on to his journey to marry Princess Lalun!

Landscape & Climate

The beautiful and colorful land of India is full of life. With a total of over one million square miles, (that’s “ginormous”), it’s no wonder so many different types of environments are there! You can find jungles, mountains, deserts, wetlands and islands! Let’s start with the jungle, since that is where we first meet Prince Rajah.

There are many jungles all over India, and each one is a little bit different. Do you remember that the Prince got tired and sat under a Palesh tree? Those are found in the Bengal Jungle,and they have bright red leaves. That’s where he meets the Ant King! The Palash tree also makes a good medicine, it can help treat an upset tummy or heal a cut or a wound! Because its leaves are a beautiful bright red, it’s called the “flame of India”.

Later, the Prince came to a pond and met a tiger, perhaps a famous Bengal tiger? Bengal tigers can be found in the Bengal Jungle – of course! Bengal tigers are BIG tigers, and they have the longest canine teeth of all the cats! They can eat poisonous snakes, wild pigs, and even monkeys! India has the largest population of Bengal tigers, and is doing lots of wonderful work to protect them. Aren’t they magnificent?

The next jungle the Prince went to had a “fakir” (a wise man) sitting under a tree.. Maybe this was in the Sundarban forest, because there are lots of Mangrove trees there. The fakir gave the prince a magic bed, and told him to fly over seven mountain ranges to meet Princess Lalun!
Of course, there are seven main mountain ranges in India! Let’s talk about those now!

Did you know India and its neighbor Nepal are home to the highest mountain range in the entire world? We call that mountain range The Himalayas, and they are so tall that a lot of the mountains go above the clouds! The Mountain range is really long too, it goes across five countries, including India and Nepal! One mountain you all may know that’s part of the Himalayas is Mount Everest, in the country Nepal. Mount Everest has the highest mountain top in the world, standing at a height of 29,031 ft (8,848.8m) tall. Most of the tallest mountains can be found in India, Nepal, and China.

This next map shows you the highest mountains on each Continent. The USA’s highest mountain is in Alaska!

Every year, mountaineers travel to the Himalayas to try their chance at climbing Mount Everest. It’s REALLY HARD! You have to have training and experience to climb the icy mountain, you have to have a permit to do it, you have to bring extra oxygen, you usually have to hire Nepalese climbers to guide you, you have to wait for the weather to be just right or you will be stuck in the middle of a snow storm, and it takes about 40 days to get from the bottom (base camp) to the top! Two amazing women mountaineer guides who have climbed Mount Everest and set world records are Phunjo Lama and Lhakpa Sherpa! I bet Princess Lalun would have liked to know them! Lhakpa Sherpa was the first Nepali woman to successfully climb Mount Everest. She set the record for most climbs by a woman, and so far, she has done it 10 times! That’s the most of any woman in the world! She was born in a cave in the Nepal region, and she had no formal education, but she is now a leader and an inspiration for many people! Way to go!

Phunjo Lama just set the women’s record for fastest time to climb Mount Everest! She did it in 14 hours and 31 minutes! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? It usually it takes people 40 to 60 DAYS to climb to the top! How did she do it? Well, she says her training and her wonderful team really helped her, and she also learned to have patience and control her mind. Wow! She is also really inspiring!

So India has jungles, and mountains, but India is also known for its largest river, the Ganges. It stretches over thousands of miles, and the Ganges River provides food like fish, and a way for boats to bring things to millions of people. The river flows from the Himalaya Mountains to the Bay of Bengal and is also home to plenty of wildlife species, like golden mahseer, otters and river dolphins! Have you ever seen a river dolphin before? They live in bodies of freshwater and have really long snouts so they can root around in the mud on the river bottom for shellfish!

Weather

India also is well known for its monsoon season. A monsoon is when the temperature and the wind change, creating a big change of weather, usually very rainy weather. In India, the monsoon season is definitely their rainy season, and it happens between June and September. Some areas of India receive almost a year’s supply of rainfall during this time. Look at that crazy rain cloud in the picture!

Culture

The history of India goes back thousands of years! It may be one of the oldest civilizations in the world! India has a culture that is amazing, and we have benefitted from lots of their practices, techniques, and customs. Like what? Well, like yoga!

YOGA: Did you know that Yoga started in India? There are drawings of people doing yoga that go back over 2000 years ago! Yoga is called “a practice”, and people practice doing stretches and poses and calming exercises. People say they love yoga because it takes care of their personal, mental, physical, and spiritual wellness. Wow! That is a lot of cool mindfulness and strength building! Here are some fun poses for you to do!

Clothes of India:

Indian clothing is very beautiful and colorful, especially the women’s Sarees. We have learned a lot about clothing dye from Indian culture. Dyeing clothes in India is like painting a rainbow onto fabric! In India, many people use natural dyes made from plants, flowers, and even insects to color their clothes. For example, the potato looking root “turmeric” can create a sunny yellow color, while “indigo leaves” can make a deep blue dye.

Indigo dyes were very popular worldwide, and people wanted to do a lot of trade with India for their dyes. Textile workers in India developed whole processes for creating their dyes and began cultivating plants that offered similar dye colors.

Have you ever seen clothes with cool patterns like swirls and dots? That’s often done using techniques like tie-dye! In tie-dye, fabric is twisted and tied before dyeing to create unique patterns. People were doing tie-dye in India over 4000 years ago! But do you think they were wearing T-shirts? Probably not! Tie is fun to do, and you can do it with rubber bands! We’ll show you how to do it in our play and learn!

Batik is another way of making a design with dy, but in this case, they don’t tie the fabric but instead use wax! Wax is dripped onto the fabric in cool designs, and then when you dye it, the dye doesn’t go where the wax is, and you have a lovely pattern! We show you how to make a batik T-shirt using Elmer’s Blue Glue in our Play & Learn.

Religions of India

There are many different religions practiced in India, the main one being “Hinduism”. But Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains are also welcome in India because it is very important for them to have “freedom of religion” in their country. The basic belief of a Hindu person is that the whole universe, and everything in it, is Gods, and that people should try to find the beauty of God in themselves. Many Hindu women wear a “bindi” dot between their eyebrows. A bindi is a red dot – sometimes made from turmeric root- that symbolizes strength and wisdom. The spot between the eyebrows is supposed to be where hidden wisdom lives!

Music of India

When you think of India, are there any sounds you hear? Perhaps a flute, or a low-pitched stringed instrument? One thing’s for sure, you probably have a made-up soundtrack of India playing in your head.

The people of India came up with their own musical instruments, styles, and notation systems a long time ago. One style that finds itself in popular music every now and then is known as Raga.

Ragas are like musical melodies that follow specific patterns of notes and rhythms. Each raga https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piMs8wNnvho

A popular instrument native to India is the sitar. These instruments look like funky guitars, and can have up to 21 strings! That’s 15 more than a guitar. Can you do the math? How many strings do guitars have? That’s 21 minus 15. You got it!

The sitar has a very distinctive sound, and can play long droning notes and fast, fluttering melodies. The instrument is used every now and then in popular music, like the Beatles’ song “Tomorrow Never Knows”.

Traditions

India is full of fascinating traditions! Many of these traditions have been passed down for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and they are celebrated in festivals that are full of dancing, color and light.

Imagine a night sky filled with colorful fireworks and houses lit up with twinkling lights. That’s Diwali! It’s a festival of lights celebrated all over India, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. People light oil lamps, decorate their homes, and exchange sweets and gifts with loved ones.

Holi is a joyful celebration where people throw colorful powders and water at each other, laughing and dancing in the streets. It’s a vibrant festival celebrated to welcome in the springtime and the new life it brings. People smear each other with colors, sing and dance to traditional music, and enjoy delicious sweets like gujiya.

Navratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga. It involves nine nights of energetic dances, rhythmic music, and colorful costumes. During Navratri, people wear beautiful clothes and dance to traditional music, moving in circles and clapping their hands. They perform traditional dances called Garba and Dandiya Raas, and offer prayers to the goddess. In Dandiya Raas, people dance with sticks called dandiyas, tapping them together in rhythm. Sounds like fun!

On Eid al-Fitr, families dressed in beautiful clothes gather to offer prayers and share delicious feasts. Eid al-Fitr is a festival celebrated by Muslims all over India to mark the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. People exchange gifts, visit relatives and friends, and enjoy special dishes like biryani and sheer khurma.

Each tradition is filled with joy, love, and a sense of togetherness, bringing people closer to their culture and heritage.

Food

Let’s imagine India as a big kitchen full of delicious surprises. Here are some tasty treats you might find:

Naan and Curry: Naan is like a soft, fluffy bread, and curry is a yummy sauce made with lots of spices. People in India love to eat naan with curry, which can be made with chicken, vegetables, or even lentils.

Samosas: Imagine a crispy, triangle-shaped pastry filled with spicy potatoes or peas. Samosas are a popular snack in India, perfect for munching on any time of day.

Dosa: Picture a thin, crispy pancake made from rice and lentils. That’s a dosa! It’s often served with yummy dips like coconut chutney or spicy sambar.

Biryani: Biryani is like a tasty mix of rice, spices, and either chicken, lamb, or vegetables. It’s cooked all together to create a flavorful one-pot meal that’s loved by people all over India.

Gulab Jamun: Gulab jamun is a soft, sweet ball soaked in sugary syrup made from khoa (a dairy product) and saffron. It’s a popular dessert in India, enjoyed at festivals and special occasions.

Chaat: Chaat is a mix of crispy crackers, tangy sauces, yogurt, and spices, topped with yummy toppings like chickpeas and chopped onions. It’s like a trip to flavor town!

Lassi: Imagine a cool, creamy drink made from yogurt, sugar, and sometimes fruit. That’s Lassi! It’s perfect for cooling down on a hot day.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! India is full of vibrant and delicious foods. With so many flavors and ingredients, there’s always something new and exciting to try!

Language

Being one of the oldest nations in the world, India is also home to some of the oldest and most culturally significant languages in the world. These languages are spoken by millions of people in different areas of the country.

Hindi: Lots of people in India speak Hindi. In fact, it’s the most widely-spoken language in the country! It’s the main language for communication in many places, especially in the northern part of India.

Bengali: Bengali is spoken mainly in West Bengal, a state in eastern India, and also in Bangladesh, which is a country next to India.

Punjabi: Punjabi is spoken mainly in the state of Punjab, which is in the northwestern part of India. Punjabi has over 113 million native speakers, making it one of the most widely-spoken languages in India.

Assamese: Imagine a puzzle piece with a lush green forest! That’s Assam. And the people there speak Assamese. Assam is home to thick and abundant forests home to much of India’s wildlife, like elephants, leopards and tigers!

These are just a few languages in India. There are many more languages spoken by different people, making India a diverse and vibrant place!

Art

Who could possibly visit India without seeing any beautiful native artwork or hearing any Indian music?

People in India create rangoli to decorate their homes during festivals and special occasions. Rangoli is an artform where people make intricate patterned shapes from powders, flower petals, sand, rice flour, stones, and other materials. Many participate during festivals and spend time creating large patterns for their families and community.

Body Art: Mehendi is a traditional form of body art in India, often done during weddings and festivals, where people receive designs and drawings on their hands, arms and faces from henna leaves. People in the United States may just call it “henna”, and it’s so fun to get henna done at a party or special gathering! It’s kind of like a tattoo!

Warli art paintings: come from the tribal communities of Maharashtra. These are beautiful paintings featuring people, animals, and nature, all drawn using basic shapes like circles and triangles.

Bharatanatyam dance:

is a classical dance form from the southern part of India, with roots dating back thousands of years. Picture graceful dancers adorned in colorful costumes, telling stories through intricate movements and expressions.

Kathakali dance: is a dance-drama art form originating from actors wearing elaborate costumes and colorful makeup, performing stories from ancient epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The daring performances and vibrant costumes are very alluring and pull in large audiences where they perform.

Carnatic music: is a classical music tradition from South India, with specific rhythms and soulful melodies. Imagine musicians playing traditional instruments like the veena and the flute, singing classical compositions in mesmerizing melodies. A veena (picture: left) is a stringed instrument, similar to a lute or sitar, and the mridangam is a percussion instrument, similar in appearance to some percussion instruments native to Africa. Carnatic performers can put on quite the show!

These are just a few examples of the rich and diverse art forms found in India. Each one is unique and special, reflecting the country’s vibrant culture and heritage!

Castles and Palaces

If you thought India had cool clothes, music and food, wait until you see the architecture!

There are many cool palaces in India, from city Palace’s to Jungle palaces.

But the Taj Mahal is probably the most famous of all!

The Taj Mahal is a big, beautiful palace made entirely out of white marble. The Taj Mahal looks especially magical when the sun is shining! The white marble reflects the sunlight, making the palace sparkle and shine like a diamond.

The Taj Mahal was built by a great emperor named Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It’s said that Shah Jahan loved Mumtaz Mahal very much, and when she passed away, he wanted to build something as special and beautiful as she was.

So, the Taj Mahal is not just a palace; it’s a symbol of love, a marvel of architecture, and a magical place that captures the hearts and imaginations of people from all over the world!

There’s another really cool castle in India that could have been home to one of our friends, Prince Rajah or Princess Lalun! That would be the Mysore Palace.

The Mysore Palace (picture: left) is like a grand palace located in the city of Mysore, in the south of India. For many years, it was the royal residence of the Maharajas (kings) of Mysore. Perhaps Princess Lalun lived there!

Look closely at the walls and ceilings of the Mysore Palace, and you’ll see thousands of tiny designs carved into the stone. These designs are like little works of art, with flowers, animals, and patterns that tell stories of the past.

Surrounding the Mysore Palace are beautiful gardens filled with colorful flowers, lush green trees, and winding pathways. It’s like a secret garden where you can explore and play!

Every year, thousands of people from all over the world come to visit the Mysore Palace and marvel at its beauty. They take pictures, go on guided tours, and learn about the fascinating history of this magical place.

We teach you how to do some yoga poses, how to play hopscotch and how to make a tie dye T-shirt using our Magic Bed Play and Learn! Join us!

The Magic Bed: Mindful Affirmations

Embrace the Power of Affirmations!

Imagine a world where your child starts and ends each day with positivity and confidence! By weaving affirmations into their daily routines, children can boost their self-esteem, build resilience, and cultivate a growth mindset. These skills empower them to face life’s challenges with courage and optimism.

Bedtime Bliss and Breakfast Boost:

Why not make affirmations a delightful part of your family’s routine? Enjoy these uplifting phrases together before bed, creating a peaceful atmosphere for sweet dreams. Then, share them again at breakfast to set a positive tone for the day ahead.

You can inspire our little ones to shine bright and embrace every opportunity that comes their way! 🌟

Play & Learn

Download Play & Learn PDFs
Animal Adventure Yoga	Download Now
Diwali Kandil Lantern Pieces	Download Now
Sita Coloring Page	Download Now
Hopscotch Play & Learn	Download Now
Learn About the Indian Holiday	Download Now
Tie Dye T-Shirts	Download Now

Snoriezzz Science Tip

Sleep and your Senses

Every night when we fall asleep, we stop fully paying attention to our senses – what we see, smell, touch, hear and taste.

It’s easy to think that our senses must turn off when we go to sleep, but it turns out all our senses are still active while we sleep even if we aren’t actively thinking of them.

Sometimes we wake up when we hear a loud noise outside, or when a bright light shines in our eyes. Our eyes, ears and senses are always gathering information, and sending that right to our brain, even when we’re sleeping!

When we sleep in places that are noisy, bright, and full of distractions, we don’t sleep as long or as deeply as we would in a quiet, dark bedroom.

f you’re having a tough time sleeping, there are some fun things that can help! Smelling lavender can make you feel sleepy, wearing an eye mask can block out bright lights, and sipping on warm Sleepytime tea can tell your body it’s time to relax. These little things can help you get the good sleep you need, especially if you make them part of your bedtime ritual.

What works best for you? Try some of these tips and see how this affects your bedtime routine. Let us know what helps by messaging us on social media @snoriezzz!

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The Magic Bed

About this Episode

Share with a Friend

Get ready for Connect & Learn! Where you and your adult dive deeper into the Snoriezzz episodes you’ve heard at bedtime or naptime!

WELCOME TO INDIA BUT…WHERE IS INDIA ANYWAY?

But first, who were Prince Rajah and Princess Lalun?

Landscape & Climate

Weather

Culture

Clothes of India:

Religions of India

Music of India

Traditions

Food

Language

Art

Castles and Palaces

We teach you how to do some yoga poses, how to play hopscotch and how to make a tie dye T-shirt using our Magic Bed Play and Learn! Join us!

The Magic Bed: Mindful Affirmations

Play & Learn

Snoriezzz Science Tip

Sleep and your Senses

Discover More Podcasts

Little Bo Peep

The Selfish Giant

Three Little Pigs

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