A 3 days Balvihar camp was organised at Modern English School from 26th to 28th December, 2018. The duration of the camp was four hours daily. 71 children of age 4 to 12 years attended the camp. Inauguration began with invocation prayers. Then with Ganapathybhajan by Smt. MiniPillai. This was followed by an enjoyable ice breaking session by Smt. Indira Someshwar with the melodious song… Gaadichalali…leading to the formation of six groups representing six Saints.
The campers learnt about the lives of Maharastrain Saints such as Jnaneshwar, Nivrittinath, Muktabai, Namdev and Janabai. They were taught abhangs of some of these Saints. Story of Sant Mirabai was also narrated. Devotion picked up by the children could be seen in their skits!
On the second day, they were taken through the life journey of our Pujya Gurudev by Sailataji, Smt. Indira Someshwar and Smt. Ujjwala Sethna -from his birth to his childhood meeting with Chattambigal Swami, freedom struggle, life as a journalist to his being a disciple of Swami Sivanandaji… and Swami TapovanMaharaj… , how the Supreme Knowledge came from the Himalayas to the plains… from the formation of the Chinmaya Mission to the present Balvihar camp. This way they came to know about the contribution of three Saints in our Gurudev’s life: Chattambi Swamigal, Swami Sivanandaji and Swami Tapovan Maharaj.The day ended with each camper enjoying and loving performing PadukaPooja and offering aarti to our Gurudev! The sparkle of divinity was witnessed by one and all during the pooja!
Gurudev’s life story was interspersed with Bhajans and activities to drive home important points… of focus and concentration, memory, sharing, alertness and vigilance… which were thoroughly enjoyed equally by all children as well as all the sevikas present.
They were also taught by Smt. Archana Prabhu birthday song and New Year song composed by our Pujya Guruji along with some abhangs of Sants and other bhajans.
The campers were given two blank cards and were asked to prepare one New Year Card and one Gratitude Card addressed to their parents. Children made beautiful cards and these were exhibited to their parents and grandparents on the last day who were simply overwhelmed!
Last day… it was wonderful and amazing to see the children perform skits on Sant Namdev, Sant Janabai, association of our Gurudev with Swami Tapovan Maharaj and sing bhajans that were taught to them during the camp!
Poonam Upadhyay, one of the sevikas highlighted the importance of taking nutritional food. She stressed how eating Sattvik ahaara such as vegetables, green leaves and fruits make one Sattvik.
It looked like the children and Sevaks / Sevikas were hand-picked by the Saints! Balvihar magazines and a camp booklet containing Sant Charitra were given to the kids. Prizes were distributed for each area of activity. The camp ended on a delightful note …each one wanting more and more…
