VHPA Bal Vihar of Southborough held its 17th Annual Day celebrations on Sunday, June 21st, 2015, from 10 AM to 3 PM. Families and friends of the Bal Vihar assembled at Sadhu Vaswani Center in Dracut, MA for the function. Since it was the first International Yoga Day, the day began with yoga asanas and Pranayam. After that, everyone performed the Saraswati Puja, led by the senior Hindu Dharma group, composed of the older children of the Bal Vihar. They recited all the mantras with perfect pronunciation and intonation. The children and their families sat calmly as they chanted the name of Saraswati Devi 108 times in unison.

After the Aarti and prasad, it was time for lunch. The mothers of the Bal Vihar children had prepared a variety of mouth-watering dishes and scrumptious desserts, which were consumed in an instant. Everyone agreed that there was nothing better than Mom’s cooking.  

After lunch, friends and family gathered again to watch a talent show showcasing the many diverse talents of the Bal Vihar children. The performances included dances in Kathak, Bharat Natyam and Kuchipudi styles, songs in classical Hindustani and Carnatic music, a Punjabi wedding dance, small skits by the senior students on social challenges such as peer pressure, distractions, and good habits. These were based on their classroom discussions. The program ended with a rendition of the Indian national anthem played on the flute, as the audience sang along.

The day ended with the much-awaited Awards ceremony. The children received awards and trophies based on their performance in various fields such as Hindi, Hindu Dharma, Shlokas, and Geet, which they had learned throughout the year. There was an award for Best Attendance, which many felt should have gone to the parents who brought the children regularly and on time. Report cards, and the first ever Bal Vihar yearbooks were also given out. The awards were presented by Jaya Asthana, the director of the Southborough Bal Vihar. After that, since it was also Father’s Day that day, everyone enjoyed a delicious chocolate cake in honor of the occasion.

Bal Vihar provides an opportunity for our children to discover their cultural bond with Bharat and develop pride in their Hindu identity. Hindi language instruction as well as cultural activities promote both the physical and spiritual well-being of the child. The program is designed to foster specific values in the children, including developing awareness of our obligations to society, creating a sense of belonging to a global family, and developing leadership qualities and a spirit of volunteering. It is open to children 4 years and above. Activities include: Devanagri class, Yoga and Indian games, stories, prayers and shlokas, inspirational songs, poems, bhajans, plays, crafts, celebration of festivals and birthdays. The Bal Vihar is a weekly 2 hour program. There are three branches, in Southboro, Lexington and Newton. For more information please contact Jaya Asthana at jasthana@hotmail.com

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