Oct 20, 2024 - Grade 1 (Sunday AM)

Hari OM Dear Families,

Here is this week's update.

 

Week: 4

20th Oct 2024 / 9:15AM

 

Shlokas-

We all chanted OM 3 times followed by  shlokas

"Om Saha Navavatu" (page 8 in My Prayers book) 

"Vakratunda Mahakaya" (page 27 in My Prayers book)

"Sarawathi namasthubhyam" (page 12 in My Prayers book)

"Guru Brahma" (page 61 in My Prayers book)

A short discussion about Navarathri and the importance of the festival and kolu set up.

Navarathri is one festival where Durga mata, Lakshmi Mata and Saraswathy mata are worshipped on the first three days, second and third respectively. Durga Mata is the supreme Shakti to destroy the bad energy, the Asura. The Mahasakthi fights the asura for nine long days and She needs as much energy to overcome the evil forces. All gods and goddesses give their entire power to  Durga Mata to overcome the bad energy and the good one to win. Hence they all stand like statues after giving all their powers to Durga who takes Kali roopam in destroying the bad forces. The golu set up with the gods dolls symbolizes the gods giving all power and standing immovable like a statue.

Bala Ramayanam - Our lesson.

We introduced characters- King Janaka, Sita, Urmila, Mandavi, Srutakirti

Place- Mithila

Story -

The trio reach King Janaka's kingdom city of Mithila. King Janaka had a daughter, Sita. She was found in the fields that were being ploughed by King Janaka, as a yagna ritual.  King Janaka personally invited the great Sage and his brave disciples to the Yagna, greatly pleased to meet the sons of his friend, King Dasaratha. Many attendees, Rishis and Kings alike, filed in as the Yagna was commencing. Finally the beautiful bow of Lord Shiva was brought in with great difficulty by five thousand warriors. Rāma iked to lift the beautiful bow. The Sage, noting his interest, nodded and blessed him to go ahead. He lifted the bow, drawing gasps from the audience. While stringing the bow, it broke in two. King Janaka was impressed with his valor and promised the hand of his daughter Sita to him. While Lord Rāma married Sita, King Janaka gave his other daughter Urmila to Lakshmana, and his brother's daughters Māndavi and Srutakirti to Bharata and Shatrughna respectively. 

Bhajan- We learned action bhajan "Khate Bhi ram Kaho" (My prayers book page 145, we learned the first verse with action) We also practiced Ganesa charanam song. (My prayers page 31)

It was a short Balavihar session, and we went to the mantapa to perform saraswathy pooja. All of us performed the pooja listening to the instructions.

Next class on 10/27/24 (please head to class, unless there is any message)

Class Rules and requirements: 

 

 

1. Children should bring their own copy of "My prayers" book, Ramayana coloring book ( for coloring activity)  Balavihar handbook (we provided on the first session) 9/15), Notebook for likhita japa (any notebook is fine but it has to be the same one throughout), pencils and erasers and crayons. 

2. Children may bring their own "spill proof water bottles"

3. NO snacks please. Please give them a good breakfast before coming to Balavihar. Also make sure they use the bathroom before going into the class.

4. Please bring the children to balavihar a few minutes before 9.15. We want to promptly start by 9.15. Please make sure the student is not late and may come latest by 9.20 and not later than that.

 

Links and Reminders:

1. We will update the class blog for the parents through an email and at the parent portal - Parent Portal 2024-25 (cmnjparentportal24-25.blogspot.com)

2.  Please refer to the Balavihar Handbook-  for the various House contests and Geeta Chanting Yagna information. (given to the kids on the first session 9/15)

3. Please join the class WhatsApp group if you have not already-WhatsApp Group Invite

   https://chat.whatsapp.com/IAbzyq5I0ioF7FF6Cr85J0

 

Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Hari OM

Indira Bhaskar and Vidhya Aiyer