Chinmaya Jayam celebrated Ganesha Chaturthi with Jayam Balavihar children

Chinmaya Jayam celebrated Ganesha Chaturthi with Jayam Balavihar children on the 12^th of September. Shri C. S. Manohar welcomed the 51 adults and children who participated in the celebrations. The program commenced with Balavihar children, Ayushman Dhawan, Adi Pandey and Bhavya Eriwal singing the invocation. It was followed by Atul Badri chanting the Ganesha Stava. After that, Chhahat Chandna, Khushi Bhatia and Hanika Chandna performed a beautiful dance that they themselves had choreographed.

The highlight of the children’s effort was a virtual tour of the eight Ganesha temples with the murtis of the eight forms of Lord Ganesha. This Ashtavinayak Yatra was introduced by the Jayam Balvihar sevika, Rupa Kumar. The children then presented the unique features of each temple and its deity.

The presentations were so well made that the audience felt as if they had earned the punya of having visited each temple. Next, Srivats Chimakurthy elaborated on the symbolism of the form of Ganapati representing the qualities of wisdom, attentiveness, strength combined with flexibility, restraint of desires and the sweet reward of those sadhanas.

Smt. Pratibha Shah lucidly explained the meaning of the Ganapati Atharvashirsa Upanishad. The Upanishad elucidates the nāma, rūpa and svabhāva of Shri Ganesha as Ganapati, the Lord of the gaṇās, the fundamental elements that shape the universe. The Lord is hence Parabrahma, the material and effective cause of Creation. He is also the Paramātmā, the Sustainer of the universe and finally, the Source into which it dissolves. The Upanishad also meditates on the nirguṇa and nirākāra Lord, the One who transcends the context of the material universe.

Balavihar children Rishab Kamath and Govind Unni chanted the Shanti Mantra of the Upanishad with fidelity and clarity. The high point of the evening was the melodious and inspiring chanting of the Ganapati Atharvashirsha Upanishad by Sevikas Rupa Kumar, Lata Iyer and Sheela Nair

Smt. Pratibha Shah and Usha Shah chanted the Ashtottarashata Namavalli. The children had prepared beautiful altars with eco-friendly Ganeshas of their own design, made of hibiscus, peepal, betel and money plant leaves. They performed the puja as guided by Smt. Pratibha. Smt. Alamelu of the Devi group sang the Ganesha Bhajan. Siddhiksha and Harshiv together sang the “Jai Ganesha” aarti song.

The program was brought to a close by Harshiv chanting the Shanti Path. The program was enjoyed by all, with several parents calling up to express their appreciation.   

Some images of the celebration below.