Welcome to our Grade 4 class, a quick recap of what was covered today. Today was the 16th Session of our class.
We all met in our classroom -- "Kesava" and after everyone sat down we said our Opening prayers.Kids were excited to meet each other after Winter break.
Opening Prayers: We all sat straight, criss-cross, hands folded, chanted together 3 Oms, then Sahana Vavatu, Ganesha Slokha -Vakra Tunda, Saraswathi Slokha- Saraswathi Namasthubayam, Guru Slokha - Guru Brahma.
Attendance: Class Attendance was taken after this.
Introduction to the Spirit Day Activities: Today we celebrated Shivaratri via the BalaVihar House Spirit Day - we were provided materials for the different activities. Kids were given all the details of the activities and they were excited to participate. Thank you for dressing kids in Blue color.
Samudhra Manthan story: The story of Samudhra Manthan was shared. All the devas and asuras wanted to find Amrit which can give them Immortality. Mount Mandara and with Serpent Vasukhi was used to churn the ocean. When they tried it first, the mountain started to sink in the ocean. So all of the devas and asuras prayed to Lord Vishnu, who took the form of Kurma (Tortoise) and went deep into the ocean and asked them to place Mount Mandara with Vasukhi wrapped on him which helped hold the mountain steadily deep inside the oeacn
As they started churning the ocean, out came man divine and auspicious things like Kalapataru, Mother Lakshmi, Kamadhenu etc. and we discussed that strong Poison was one of the things that came out of the ocean apart from all other divine and auspicious things.
As all of the Devas and Asuras requested Lord Shiva to help them, Lord Shiva drank the poison and Ma Parvathi held his neck to stop the poison going from his neck to the rest of his body. By this Shiva's neck became blue in color and he got a new name as Neelakanta.
And we discussed how the Devas and Asuras, being so grateful and worried about Shiva, sang bhajans, performed dances all through the night in order that Shiva should not fall asleep, and by early morning the poison lost its effect. Shiva being so pleased with all, declared that this day shall be celebrated as ShivaRatri and everyone can pray to him, by fasting, doing pooja, Abhishekam and seek his divine blessings. And Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati got married on this day.
Spirit Day Activities: Instructions and materials were provided for kids to make Nandi, Trishul and Damaru. Youtube video for making the Nandi helped kids. Kids participated with lot of Enthusiasm and created beautiful Nandi with all of the details and colored it, and created the colorful Damaru and Trishul.
Game : Clues were provided, questions, and puzzle was given for kids to solve identify the answers and these answers led them to find the magic number which will open the lock to the Treasure chest Then we all had to go to the Assembly and there in collaboration with other classes, We got the magic numbers to open the Treasure chest and inside it we found the Bilva Patra which is auspicious and special to offer to Lord Shiva. Kids offered it to Lord Shiva and amidst chants of Om Namah Shivaya!
After this, we said the pledge and dispersed.
Pictures :Pictures were taken during the activities and in the assembly and shared with Parents via whatsapp.
It was another interesting session, and kids were very happy and excited to make Nandi with clay and paid attention to detail and decorated it very well. And they made colorful and beautiful Damaru and Trishul as well.
Pranaams
Mahalakshmi Arcot
Anurag Saran
