Embark on a captivating journey through fluid dynamics in this first lecture of "The Fascinating World of Flows" series, delivered by Prof. Rama Govindarajan. Explore the ubiquitous nature of flows in everyday life and learn to describe their behavior using fundamental tools. Discover how flows become unstable and eventually transition to turbulence, connecting these concepts to common experiences such as river patterns around pillars, cloud formation, and the necessity of stirring to mix sugar in tea. Gain insights into the potential influence of living organisms on fluid flow. This lecture is part of a comprehensive summer course offered by the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, designed to provide a solid foundation in fluid dynamics through a series of engaging sessions held from June 13 to July 6, 2023.