Fancy Dress Day Journal

It was wonderful to see the kids all dressed up for the Indian fancy dress this past weekend. Here is the update for the previous balavihar session.

We did a quick run through of the Dhyaana Shloka - Om Sahanavavatu (pg 9) followed by attendance and the daily prayers (Karaagre Vasate, Vakratunda, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Bramhaarpanam, Shubham Karoti, Kara Charana - pages 14-17 of the My Prayer Book).

We also revised the Gruru Sthothram till verse 8 (pg 85-86). Please be sure to practice the verses at home as some kids are having trouble saying them with the rest of the class.

In Ramayana, we discussed the story of how Janaka, the king of Mithila, found Sita while ploughing the fields for a yagya and accepted her as a gift from Bhumadevi, took her home and brought her up as his own daughter. The kids also learnt about Valmiki reaching Mithila along with Rama and Lakshmana and how Rama took up the challenge of breaking Rudra’s bow to marry Sita. Everyone in class was in a festive mood as they were dressed up as the characters at the wedding.

For the activity we continued to trace Lord Rama’s journey on the map of India. All the kids are requested to please bring this map to every class along with their folders. Also, since we were attending a wedding, we discussed what gift we should give. For this, each kid got a sheet of paper on which they were asked to write down whatever bad habits they wanted to get rid of. They folded the sheets and put it in a gift bag that I assured would reach Lord Rama. The idea is that God will accept these bad habits and convert them into good ones for the kids. That would be the best gift we could give!

We concluded the class with the closing prayer - Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha (pg-19). We also revised the meaning of this prayer.

For their homework, please make sure the kids revise their vowels and the Gurusthothram upto verse 8. Also, color the picture of Sita Swayamvar that has been sent home.

See you at the next class. Please dress up in traditional clothes as we will be celebrating the festival of Deepavali.

Class Journal Update - A Guest Helper Today!

Our session covered the Dhyaana Shloka - Om Sahanavavatu (pg 9) followed by attendance and the daily prayers (Karaagre Vasate, Vakratunda, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Bramhaarpanam, Shubham Karoti, Kara Charana - pages 14-17 of the My Prayer Book). We had a new student Sai in our class. We also had Varun from the higher grade as a guest in our class and he assisted me with the activities.

We practiced the bhajan Rama Naama Thaarakam (pg 211). We also revised the Gruru Sthothram till verse 7 and learnt verse 8 (pg 85-86).

In Ramayana, we covered the chapters involving the great sage Vishwamitra coming to Ayodhya for help against the asuras disturbing his yagya. We discussed how Rama and his brothers were excellent sons and students. We learnt about how Rama and Lakshmana travelled with Vishwamitra through the Dandaka forest to the ashram of Vishwamitra and how the asuras Maricha (who will play an important role later) and Subahu were defeated. We also learnt about Ahalya. That led us to the next verse of the bhajan  Atma Nivasi Ram – Ahalyodharaka Ram (pg 209-210).

As a part of the day’s activity, we traced the footsteps of Vishwamitra, Rama and Lakshmana from Ayodhya to Vishwamitra’s Ashrama. Please bring this map of India to every class as we will continue to mark Lord Rama’s journey right upto the defeat of Ravana. We also discussed the story of Vamana Avatara. The significance here is that the place where Mahabali got immortality from Vamana is where Vishwamitra’s ashram was situated.

Varun helped answer some of the questions the kids had regarding these chapters. Next week, we will cover the chapter of Rama’s wedding to Sita. As this coincides with the fancy dress day, we decided to dress up as characters for the wedding. Varun made chits and the kids picked the characters from the chits. For those not present in the previous session, please pick any character from the Rama-Sita wedding excluding Rama, Lakshmana, Bharat, Shatrughna, Sita, Urmila, Kauhsalya, Kaikeyi and Dasharatha as these characters have all already been picked. It would be nice to see the kids from first grade be a part of the Ramayan.

I know this is short notice, so if you don’t find any appropriate costume/prop, please come dressed in traditional Indian wear.

We concluded the class with meditation followed by the closing prayer - Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha (pg-19). We also learnt the meaning of this prayer.

Thank you Varun for helping out.

For their homework, please make sure the kids revise their vowels and the Gurusthothram upto verse 8. After the Diwali class, I plan to take a test of the vowels so that we can proceed with Sanskrit writing.

See you at the next class. Please remember to bring you folders.

Happy Navaratri

The last class followed the usual routine of the Dhyaana Shloka - Om Sahanavavatu (pg 9) followed by attendance and a quick revision of the daily prayers (Karaagre Vasate, Vakratunda, Saraswati Namastubhyam, Bramhaarpanam, Shubham Karoti, Kara Charana - pages 14-17 of the My Prayer Book).

We practiced the bhajan Rama Naama Thaarakam (pg 211) and revised the first 3 verses of the bhajan - Atma Nivasi Ram (pg 209-210). We also revised the Gruru Sthothram till verse 7 (pg 85-86).

Since it was the class scheduled for celebrating Navaratri, we discussed the significance of the festival. We spoke about how the first three days are for worshipping Goddess Durga, the next three days for Goddess Lakshmi and the last three days for Goddess Sarasawati. The kids discussed how they celebrate Navaratri in their homes. All different aspects from fasting moms, to Dandiya Ras and Golu were shared. We also spoke about how kanchakas are worshipped and Prasad (halwa puris) are distributed in some homes while in others Sundals are distributed as prasadam and the women and girls are called for haldi kumkum and given gifts.

Then we related it to Ramayana by discussing how Ravana was killed on Vijaya Dashami. We got to know about Ram Leela and how processions and jhankis are carried out India comprised of characters from Ramayana and how someone dressed as Rama gets to shoot a fire arrow at the Ravana effigy which burns amidst much fanfare and fireworks depicting the end of war between Lord Rama and Ravana.

In keeping with the Navaratri theme, the kids drew, colored and decorated a picture of Goddess Durga. Finally, we concluded the class with meditation followed by the closing prayer - Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha (pg-19).

For their homework, please make sure the kids revise their vowels and the Gurusthothram upto verse 7.

See you at the next class. Please remember to bring you folders.