Pushya masam
December 21 to January 18 Surya Namaskar Experience
BALA MITRA
FOR THE BALAS, BY THE BALAS
Dallas East and North Vibhags - Bala - Monthly Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE
KARYAKARTA MESSAGE
By Vishnu Chimmula, Karyavah, Dallas North
DearBalas
HappyMakaraSankranti!!AndHappySuryaNamaskarYajna(SNY)!!Ihopeeachofyouhasembracedorinthe processofembracingSuryaNamaskarasapartofyourdailyroutineandpracticeitwithoutfail Thereisnobetter exampleofdisciplineandservicethantheSun.Sunembodiesunwaveringcommitmentandselflessgiving,risingeach daywithoutfailandsustaininglifeforeverylivingbeingintheuniverse
SuryaNamaskarYajna(SNY)hasbeenapowerfulinitiativeinpromotingHealthforHumanitywithinthelarger community Thisyear,oneofourkeygoalsistointroduceSNYtoschoolsbydemonstratingSuryaNamaskarto teachersandstudents,explainingitsnumerousbenefits,andencouragingthemtoincorporateitintoPEclassandtheir dailylives AllofyouBalascanconnectwithyourschoolstafftoorganizeanSNYsessionanddemonstrateittoyour class
Asthenewyearof2025begins,letmesharewithyouallbalasapopularstoryofLordGanesha,ataleofwisdom, perseverance,andthepowerofapromise
Longago,intheheavenlyabodeofMountKailash,littleGaneshawasknownforhiswisdomanddevotion Oneday,the greatSageNaradaarrivedwithadivinefruit,theFruitofKnowledge.Hedeclared,"Thisfruitisblessedwithimmense wisdomandpower Onlythemostdeservingchildshouldhaveit"
LordShivaandGoddessParvatilookedattheirtwosons Ganesha,thewiseandcalmone,andKartikeya,theswiftand valiantwarrior Bothwantedthefruit,soLordShivasetachallenge "Whoevercirclestheuniversethreetimesfirst shallwinthisfruit!"
Kartikeyaimmediatelymountedhispeacockandsoaredacrosstheskies,determinedtowintherace Heflewacross mountains,oceans,planets,andstars,determinedtocompletethechallengeasquicklyaspossible ButlittleGanesha, withhisroundbellyandsmallmouse,knewhecouldn’tcompetewithKartikeyainspeed Insteadoffeeling discouraged,hethoughtdeeplyandsmiled.Hewalkeduptohisparents,ShivaandParvati,andhumblycircledthem threetimes
WhenKartikeyareturned,proudofhisjourney,hewassurprisedtoseeGaneshastandingtherecalmly "Howdidyou finishthechallengebeforeme?"Kartikeyaasked Ganeshasmiledandreplied,"Forme,myparentsaretheentire universe.Bycirclingthem,Ihavecircledtheuniverseitself."ShivaandParvati,pleasedwithhiswisdom,handedthe fruittoGanesha,declaringhimthewinner Kartikeyaacceptedtheresultwithrespect,realizingthedepthofGanesha’s wisdom
TheLessonfortheNewYear
Aswestepinto2025,letustakeinspirationfromLordGanesha.Challengesmaycomeindifferentforms,and sometimeswemaynotbethefastestorthestrongest Butwithwisdom,creativity,anddevotion,wecanalwaysfinda waytosucceed
Sobalas,letuspromisetofacethisyearwithdetermination,intelligence,andrespectforourfamilyandteachers becausewisdomandperseverancewillalwaysleadustovictory!
Surya Namaskar Experi
~By Poorvi Srinandini Javadi, Prayag Shakha
Art Work
~By Vivek Chekkapalli, Prerana Shakha
Art Work
~By Nila Nair, Maitri Shakha
My Winter Break Experience
~By Aayush Halkatti, Prerana Shakha
Mywinterbreakwasterrificandsomuchfun.Rightbeforeourbreakstarted,Iwas thrilledtogeta2weekbreakfromschoolandtocelebratetheupcomingholidays.On Fridaywegotreleasedfromschool.Iwassoexcitedtotakeabreakfromallthe schoolworkandjustrelax.WhenIgothome,IrememberedthatmymomwenttoSSV, andshewouldbegoneforeightdays.Iwaskindasadthatsheleft.Butitwasfine becauseshewentlastyeartoo.
Overthebreakme,mydad,andmysisterwenttotryoutdifferentrestaurantsaround Frisco.Mostofthemweregoodandsomenotthebest.So,whenmymomwouldcome backwecouldallgoasafamily.Justforfun,Imadethisrandomwheeldrawer.Iwas lookingforalltherestaurantsandaddingthemintothewheelanditwassomuchfunto do.Mysisteranddadhelpedmakeitandwespentsometimeonit.Byaccidentmydad deletedthetabinthecomputeranditwouldtakealongtimeformetocreateagainso wedecidedtouserandomplacestoeat.Itwasokanywaywedidn’tevenuseit,butwe spentsomenicefamilytimemakingit.AndIthinkfamilytimeismoreimportant.
My Winter Break Experience
~By Aayush Halkatti, Prerana Shakha
Also, over the break, we watched a lot of movies and TV shows. During the break we went to see the new Moana 2 and I have to admit that it was pretty good. Then with our friends’ group we went to watch the new Mufasa -The Lion King. That movie has become my new favorite movie ever. There is one song from that movie that always gives me goosebumps. It’s so good and I’m sure other people would agree with me. At home we watched good family movies and Christmas classics It was great and we love Christmas time as it gives a good feeling of family time.
On Christmas morning, me and my sister were so excited for Christmas or just me because I asked for like 30 things, but I didn’t get everything I asked for. I just wish that I had got them. My sister asked for a phone, and she got one. She literally started crying of how happy she was. But then I told her “It’s just a phone”. Like it’s not the most important thing in someone's life. There is nothing to cry about but all that was important was just seeing how happy someone can be. I got a $800 Amazon gift card for an E-bike, a hoodie, shorts, and socks. I was really happy too.
On break even when my mom was at SSV, and she wasn't there we were always with our friend group. The same one when we went to go watch Mufasa. Some of their moms also had gone to SSV. After we opened the presents, we went to one of my friend’s house to brunch. In our friend circle there are four families, and we all know each other for a long time. They are always fun to be with and spend time with. And I love to spend time with all of them. We even spent new year’s with them at my house and it was after SSV, so everyone was there. I had one of the best times during the holidays with my family and friends. This concludes mostly everything I have done in my 2024-2025 winter break. One of the best times I had…HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sewa Diwali
~By Vedika Deshpande, Pragathi Shakha
Sewa Diwali is a yearly food drive Hindus do to help hungry people in need of food during Diwali. It happens over 32 states in the US. Sewa Diwali food drives happen in many places. Some examples are mandirs, grocery stores, residential neighborhoods, and more.
For Sewa Diwali I went to India Bazaar with my Shakha friends to request people to donate money or food to the food drive. We had a poster that explained what Sewa Diwali is. We received a decent amount of donations. After our food drive was done, we went to a nearby Indian restaurant together for lunch.
We shared flyers across our neighborhood, and asked friends to help Sewa Diwali. My family as well as lots of other people in my Shakha also got Sewa Diwali donations from people in their neighborhoods.
Sewa Diwali has been going on for a long time. It provides food for people in need of it, and brings smiles to their faces. Many people have been thanking the Hindu Community and Sewa Diwali for helping them. “Sewa Paramo Dharmaha” means “Selfless service is the highest duty”, and it truly describes what Sewa Diwali is all about.
Art Work
~By Nehashritha Reddy Pesala, Prerana Shakha
Art Work
~By Saachi, Prayag Shakha
Art Work
~By Jhanyasree, Prayag Shakha
Dallas East Event Pictures
Prerana Shakha – To welcome new balas to our shakha as a part of KMHV program and to acknowledge this year’s SNY, we conducted a small craft project on SNY.
Dallas East Event Pictures
Prayag Shakha- As part of the KMHV program, we welcomed new families and introduced them to our shakha structure. Kids enjoyed doing a small craft activity, and families enjoyed khel and yoga. As part of SNY we did Surya Namaskar along with existing and new families.
Dallas North Event Pictures
Chetana and Shakti Shakha celebrated Makar Sankranti Utsav on January 18th. Two sets of Surya Namaskars were performed to kick off the Surya Namaskar Lehar. Know My Hindu Values program was also started for the balas.
Dallas North Event Pictures
Unnati shakha celebrated Makar Sankranti Utsav with great fervor and frolic. Balas were fully engaged and thoroughly enjoyed the kite making activity.
Hindu Heroes Birthdays
Subhash Chandra Bose
Date of Birth: January 23, 1897
An Indian nationalist known for his role in the country’s struggle for freedom from the British, Subhas Chandra Bose was a politician with radical views.
Sathyendra Nath Bose
Date of Birth: January 1, 1894
Best known for working with Albert Einstein to form Bose–Einstein statistics, Indian scientist Satyendra Nath Bose was a master of quantum mechanics.
Savitribai Phule
Date of Birth: January 3, 1831
Savitribai Phule was a revolutionary social reformer who dedicated her life to educate girls and bring about gender equality in the face of resistance from the conservative Indian society.
Lala Lajpat Roy
Date Of Birth: January 28, 1865
Lala Lajpat Rai was an Indian politician who played a major role in the Indian Independence movement.
Swami Vivekananda
Date Of Birth: January 12, 1863
He is credited with introducing the Indian philosophies of Yoga and Vedanta to the Western world. He is also credited with elevating the status of Hinduism as a major religion in the modern world by raising interfaith awareness.
Birthdays
janma dinamidam ayi priya sakhe santanotu te sarvadä mudam prärthayämahe bhava satäyusi isvarah sadä tväm ca raksatu || punya karmanä kirti marjaya jivanam tava bhavatu särthakam ||
Ishwar Jan04
Laasya Jan26
Shivani Jan01
Prisha Jan27
Harsh Jan16
Dallas East and North Vibhag Shakhas
Agni (Kishor)
Sunday 9:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Children's Garden Montessori
8565 Gratitude Trail, Plano, TX - 75024
#469-269-2535
Chaitanya
Friday 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM #479-866-2575
Chetana
Saturday8:15AM-9:55AM
SaiNrityaAcademy
2751,SouthStonebridgeDr #1 MckinneyTX-75072 #972-207-9137
Jagruti
Sunday 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM Ahn's Tae Kwon Do Institute 2001 Coit Rd 209 B, Plano, TX 75075
Kesari
Friday 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM 635 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080 #972-482-8584
Maitri
Sunday 9:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Children's Garden Montessori 8565 Gratitude Trail, Plano, TX 75024 #469-666-8966
Pragathi
Saturday 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
KJ Dance 5444 FM 423 #700, Frisco, TX 75034 #617-756‐9204
Prayag
Sunday 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Soul Fighters Martial Arts 1223 W McDermott Rd. #100, Allen, TX 75013
Prerana
Sunday 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Children’s Garden Montessori Academy 8565 Gratitude Tr, Plano TX 75024 #626-200-5913
Prithvi Kishor
Saturday 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM #469-666-8966
Shaurya (Kishor)
Sunday 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Children’s Garden Montessori Academy 8565 Gratitude Tr, Plano TX 75024
#214-697-5663
Unnati Shakha
Friday 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM 12465 FM 428, Celina, TX 75009 #201-637-4983
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