“To help children Learn Values with fun, To delight like the moon and shine like the sun.” - Swami Tejomayananda
What is Bala Vihar?
Chinmaya Mission Bala Vihar offers cultural and spiritual classes for children in New York City at multiple locations in Manhattan, Queens and Long Island. At Bala Vihar, children engage with the rich cultural heritage of India and its core values through stories, arts, crafts, classroom discussions and seva projects. Children also learn popular bhajans and shlokas and immerse in festive traditions at community celebrations. Chinmaya Mission centers have become models for imparting India’s ancient spiritual heritage and the fundamentals of Vedanta to the next generation. Chinmaya Bala Vihar classes are organized into various grade levels from pre-K to Grade 12, aligning teaching resources and techniques with cognitive and emotional development of students. In promoting and teaching the universal philosophy of Oneness (Advaita Vedanta), children are made to understand that although Hinduism may appear to have many Gods, the Truth (God) is the one ultimate Reality, and thus it is one God manifesting in many forms.
Why Bala Vihar?
Bala Vihar provides spiritual and cultural orientation to children of the modern age. The purpose of the Bala Vihars as elucidated by Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda is,
- To inculcate in our children and youth a reverence for our ancient culture, and inspire them to live up to it with correct understanding
- To create self-confidence so that they are able to serve and act cheerfully
- To generate a true affection in all contacts, inculcate personal discipline and a true spirit of leadership
- To mold their capacity to express and assert their individuality
- To bring out their dormant faculties while cultivating and improving their creative abilities
- To provide an environment to grow with noble ideals, healthy emotions and physical discipline
- To develop a healthy resistance against temptations in the environment in which they grow
How does Bala Vihar Work?
Bala Vihar meets once a week, at several locations in Manhattan and Queens-Long Island for 90 minutes, to learn about our rich culture, spiritual wisdom and core values in a fun and immersive environment. Bala Vihar classes for different age groups are conducted by trained sevaks and sevikas. These dedicated volunteers impart the values of Sanatana Dharma to children toward character development, laying the foundation for a purposeful and fulfilling life ahead.
MANHATTAN
Manhattan Uptown Bala Vihar on Saturdays
Registrations for Uptown Bala Vihar for the academic year 2024-25 will open on 21 May 2024.
New families who wish to learn more about the program and apply for academic year 2024-25, please send an email with your name and contact phone number. Please also include the name(s), age(s) and grade in September 2024 for your child(ren). Reach us at cmbvuptown@chinmayanewyork.org
| Starts at | Ends at | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | 11:25 AM | General Assembly – Opening Prayers & Discussion |
| 11:30 AM | 12:30 PM | Classroom Instruction for children* Parent Satsang led by Shubhani ji |
| 12:30 PM | 12:45 PM | Aarti |
*Please note that duration of the class varies from 45 min to an hour depending on the age group of the students.
Classes are conducted in person on the Upper East Side (UES) on Saturdays with Bala Vihar assembly starting at 11am. Uptown Bala Vihar session dates for 2024-25 are as follows:
September: 14, 21, 28
October: 19, 26
November: 2, 9, 16, 23
December: 7, 14
January: 11, 25
February: 1, 8, 22
March: 1, 8, 15
April: 5, 12, 26
May: 3, 10, 17, 31
June: 7
*Above dates may be subject to change.
Contact :
Manhattan Downtown Bala Vihar on Saturdays
Downtown Bala Vihar is currently accepting rolling registrations for the 2024-25 academic year. New families who wish to learn more about the program and apply for academic year 2024-25 please send an email with your name and contact phone number. Please also include the name(s), age(s) and grade in September 2023 for your child(ren). Reach us at cmbvdowntown@chinmayanewyork.org
| Starts at | Ends at | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 4:00 PM | 4:25 PM | General Assembly – Opening Prayers & Discussion |
| 4:30 PM | 5:30 PM | Classroom Instruction for children* Parent Satsang led by Shubhani ji |
| 5:30 PM | 5:45 PM | Aarti |
*Please note that duration of the class will vary from 45 min to an hour depending on the age group of the students.
Classes will be conducted in person in Chelsea on Saturdays. The Bala Vihar assembly starts at 4 pm. Downtown Bala Vihar session dates for 2024-25 are as follows:
September: 7, 14, 21, 28
October: 19, 26
November: 2, 9, 16, 23
December: 7, 14
January: 11, 25
February: 1, 8, 22
March: 1, 8, 15
April: 5, 12, 26
May: 3, 10, 17, 31
June: 7, 14
Contact :
QUEENS-LONG ISLAND
Queens-Long Island Bala Vihar on Sundays
| Starts at | Ends at | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM | 9:00 AM | Bhagavad Geeta Chanting (Online Classes) |
| 10:00 AM | 11:00 AM | Classroom Instructions for children Parent Satsang led by Jatin ji |
| 11:05 AM | 11:30 AM | Assembly |
Alternatively, please send an email with your name and contact phone number. Please also include the name(s), age(s) and grade in September 2024 for your child(ren). Reach us at qlibalavihar@chinmayanewyork.org
REGISTER FOR QUEENS LI BALA VIHAR
Queens-Long Island Bala Vihar session dates for 2024-25 are as follows:
September: 15, 22, 29
October: 6, 20, 27
November: 3, 17, 24
December: 8, 15
January: 5, 12, 26
February: 2, 9
March: 2, 9, 16, 23
April: 6, 27
May: 4, 11, 18
June: 1, 8
Contact :
WESTCHESTER BALAVIHAR
Westchester Bala Vihar on Sundays
| Starts at | Ends at | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | 12:00 PM | Classroom Instructions for children Parent Satsang led by Anju Arora |
| 12:00 PM | 12:30 PM | Assembly, Aarti & Prasad |
REGISTER FOR WESTCHESTER BALA VIHAR
Use code HERITAGE to avail $50 off registration until 16 August 2024.
New families who wish to learn more about the program and register please send an email with your name and contact phone number. Please also include the name(s), age(s) and grade for your child(ren). Reach us at
westchesterbv@chinmayanewyork.org
Bala Vihar session dates for 2024-25 are as follows:
September: 15, 22, 29
October: 6, 20, 27
November: 3, 10, 17
December: 8, 15
January: 5, 12, 26
February: 2, 9
March: 2, 9, 16, 30
April: 6, 13, 27
May: 4, 11, 18
June: 1, 8
Contact :
CHINMAYA BALA VIHAR CURRICULUM
Chinmaya Bala Vihar curriculum includes various devotional, philosophical and ethical texts and topics, focusing in the early years on developing love for God, in the elementary years on learning and practicing value based living, and in the teenage years on understanding spirituality and fundamental Vedantic principles. The curriculum covers topics and texts from the Vedas, Puranas and Itihasas, taught in age-appropriate pedagogy. A typical curriculum includes: ABC of Vedanta, Ramayana, Introduction of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Shrimad Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, Symbolism in Hinduism, Hanuman Chalisa, India and Festivals of India, Values from Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Ramacharitamanasa. Additional topics are developed and taught at the Chinmaya Bala Vihar camps.
Children between the ages of 3 – 4 years old are now under a program called “Chinmaya Shishu Vihar” which is a parent and me class. They have an extensive curriculum which explores one God per month. The children learn through story-telling, arts and crafts, yoga and many more fun activities!
The Chinmaya Bala Vihar curriculum covers Grades KG-12*. Students in grades 9-10 are also called “Junior CHYK.” Students in grades 11-12 are also called “CHYK.” Chinmaya Yuva Kendra – CHYK covers ages 17-28 years.
| Kindergarten | The Alphabet Safari |
|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Bala Ramayana |
| Grade 2 | Sri Hanuman – The Super Superman |
| Grade 3 | Bala Bhagavatam |
| Grade 4 | Krishna Krishna Everywhere/My 24 Teachers |
| Grade 5 | Symbolism in Hinduism |
| Grade 6 | India, The Sacred Land |
| Grade 7 | Key to Success/P.O Box Mr. God |
| Grade 8 | Yato Dharmah Tato Jayah |
| Grade 9 | Hindu Culture |
| Grade 10-11 | Gita for Me |
| Grade 12 | Self-Unfoldment |
*Curricula may vary depending on location and number of students enrolled.
Chinmaya Kids
Chinmaya Kids also includes a section where little learners can maintain their own diary reinforcing the ability to organize, document and assimilate knowledge. This section also gives the option of sending a friendship band to God and more.
The Little Hearts section calls upon youngsters to get real and face the challenges posed by the many struggles of life. The section is dedicated to answering questions about the numerous inner struggles and conflicts between the Yin and Yang (good and bad) in one’s nature and environment.
