5/31/2015

Today initially we had a thin presence of three kids and the other Pre-K class didn't have any teachers so we had a combined class. As we were starting we had the Amrutham teacher join  and as it progressed we had six kids from our class. 

We had a wonderful joint class with Amrutham kids. We started with chanting OM three times, followed by the new Ganapathy Slokam "Vakrathunda  maha kaya..." though it was new to our kids, they were able to repeat with us. Then we chanted "Gajananam.." Folllowed by that, we said "saraswathy namasthubyam..".  Once we prayed to Saraswathy, we did our Guru Slokam.

We took a bathroom break. Kids lined up nicely and went to the bathroom. 

Then We did a wonderful craft work of identifying and pasting various cut pictures of Lord SHIVA and Lord Ganesha along with Thrishul, Damru, Modhak, laddu and Mooshika.  A Big Thanks to Meena aunty of Amrutham class to bring in the craft work. The kids completed and spoke about both GODs, their various names. All kids were very enthusiastic about it and clearly mentioned the names and identified various aspects of the GODS.

The kids then had yummy snack. It was time and we chanted our concluding prayers. See you all next weekend June 7th.

Thank you. Hari OM.

Rajesh and Vidhya

Madhuram.

5/17/15

This week we went on our field trip to our Vrundavan Ashram in Cranbury, NJ. The ashram & temple was wonderful. We all felt @ home. Initially, the kids attended the local Balavihar classes for the first fifteen minutes where the kids were asked to do "Likitha Japa" of the sanskrit OM word. It was wonderful - a 3 with a tail, moon and a dot. We traced the activity. After which, we all assembled in the temple for Aarathi. It was such a nice atmosphere were the entire Balvihar families (from both) attended.

The assembly started with Meena aunty singing a bajan followed by Seema aunty announcing the Bhagavad Gita Preliminary winners. Muni uncle along with the finalists recited the entire 15th chapter. Congratulations to the finalists. After this, our kids performed on stage. The Kids did a marvelous job of reciting all FOUR slokams. It was so beautiful. A great round of applause to all the kids and the Parents for making this a success. Everyone loved it. Followed by us, the Amrutham class performed as well. It was so awesome. We had a good presence, seven kids and family.

After the assembly all kids below the 5th grade attended a class where the teachers lead by Pushpa aunty conducted various activities for all the kids. While the parents were involved in multiple Seva activities in the ashram and Meena aunty gave a tour of the ashram.

The sixth grade and above were giving a speech on the 14th sloka "Aham Vaishvanaro...", it was wonderful to watch the kids give a speech and you can see how much they have learnt as most of them I have seen like our class kids in Balvihar years before.

It all ended with a sumptuous lunch and ice cream. The final desert was really an icing on the cake as it was hot & humid that day.

Thanks for all. See you again in CORD walkathon on May 31st. We DO NOT have classes this weekend for Memorial Day. Have a wonderful long weekend.

Hari OM
Thank you.
Rajesh and Vidhya
Madhuram.

5/3/15

We had a little longer assembly with the 7th graders presenting the Chinmaya news letter and the interview with adults & kids on our Pujya Gurudev Chimayananda ji.

After the assembly, we got to our classes and Rajesh uncle led the class with OM chant and today the kids wanted to say the slokhas themselves. One by one said the Gajananam, Ganesha Slokha. We followed this with our Parvathi Slokam and we did Yoga for a short time.
Then we went back to learning Parvathi slokam. Kids one by one said Saraswathi and Guru slokam. We revised various names of Ganesha and kids remembered pretty much all the names of Ganesha. Since the kids are saying the slokam themselves, we are planning to have the kids say
these slokas in the stage in our Cranbury ashram. Parents, please practice all four [Ganesha, Saraswathi, Guru and Parvathi] at home.

Please refer to our blog if you need any help or drop me a line. Please practice atleast once a day.

A potty break followed by snacks (thanks to Siddharth) and we revised the Ekathantha story and Ganapathy story. After which we concluded with the closing verses.

Remember, we don't have class this coming weekend (Happy Mother's day). The following week May 17th is our field trip to our ashram in Cranbury.
Field Trip to Vrindavan Ashram (95 Cranbury Neck Road, Cranbury, NJ 08512) on May 17.

On May 17 2015, BBNJ Parents and Children will be going to Field Trip to Vrindavan Ashram directly (There will be no sessions @ Bridgewater school on that day.) Every one must attend the Trip.

It is a wonderful place and it would be an awesome experience for the kids to visit our own ashram, the place where we all can go back to.

Reminders- a water bottle (weather getting better, so please do not miss bringing in water bottles)
-a Box of crayons and
-a hand sanitizer.

IMPORTANT- There is no class on May 10th and May 16th is the Baghavad Gita Preliminary competition in our High school.
The next class is on coming Sunday May 17th in Cranbury ashram. Please try to reach there by 9:30 AM.

Hari OM

Thank you.

Rajesh and Vidhya

Madhuram

4/26/15

We had a little longer assembly with the 9th graders presenting the values of Bhagavad Gita through Harry Potter. Our little ones even remembered Harry Potter from the assembly.

After the assembly, we got to our classes and Rajesh uncle led the class with OM chant and later with our Ganesha slokam along with revising various names of Ganesha. Kids remembered pretty much all the names of Ganesha. We followed that with Saraswathy slokam and Guru slokam.
By now, the kids individually knows all the three slokhams and they recited one by one individually. We did yoga to get some energy and kids participated enthusiastically. With gaining energy, we prayed to Parvathy mata with the "sarva mangala" slokham. Now kids can say this slokam together.  Along with the parents we discussed how the kids can now say the three slokams for Ganesha, Saraswathy and Guru and that they should make it a point to say atleast once a day.

A potty break followed by snacks (thanks to Suhani) and we revised the Ekathantha story, our class's favorite one. Now, kids participated and tried telling the story from what they remember. Next week, we asked the kids to share their favorite story that they heard in the class or any other God story that they like. After which we concluded with the closing verses.

Reminders- a water bottle (weather getting better, so please do not miss bringing in water bottles)
-a Box of crayons and
-a hand sanitizer.

IMPORTANT- The next class is on coming Sunday May 3rd.

Thank you.
Hari OM.

Rajesh and Vidhya
Madhuram