Bala Mitra Q1 (Jan - March) 2024

BALA MITRA

South Houston Vibhag - Bala Monthly Newsletter

In this Issue

Karyakarta Message

Hanuman Chalisa

Holi

Bala Artwork

Shakha Activities

Birthday Pictures

South Houston Vibhag

Shakha Details

Quarter 1 (Jan - March) 2024 FOR THE BALA,

Karyakarta Message

Vineel ji Kota Tanaji Shakha

Namaste Balas and Readers of Bala Mitra!

Bala’s feel excited and proud when their article is published in the Bala Mitra. They gain confidence to publish more articles in the future as well as articles on other sites

Balas also get a chance to look at the work of other children and their friends. They get inspired with the work done by other balas and they will work more to write an article or make an artwork in the near future. This is a healthy competition. They also learn about Sanatana dharma as part of this process.

Balas should be connected to our culture because there is lot of bad influences in the outside world. There is lot of peer pressure at school and college. Most of the families are nuclear We don’t have the privilege of joint family where family elders (grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins) spend a lot of time with balas and teach them good values.

At shakha balas make friends. They learn different games and learn the importance of team work. Because they participate in various activities like Subhashitam and Prarthana, balas don’t have stage fear. This will give them confidence. They learn about Hindu culture and they are proud about their culture. All these activities will help balas cope with any changes or challenges in their school

MEENAKSHI SHAKHA PEARLAND

HISTORY OF HANUMAN CHALISA

The hanuman chalisa is a hindu devotional prayer, signifying one ' s devotion to Lord Hanuman, devotee of Lord Rama. The word “chalisa” comes from the word “chalis”, which means the number 40 in hindi, as the Hanuman chalisa has 40 verses. Hanuman is a monkey-faced devotee of Rama, and is an important character of the Ramayana, a Hindu religious text. Hanuman is known for his strength, courage, wisdom and his devotion to Shri Rama This prayer comes from Saint Tulsidas, who composed and sang the hanuman chalisa in prison

On a fine morning, a lady was returning from worship and she touched the feet of Tulsidas Tulsidasji blessed her with immense happiness As soon as she got the boon, she started crying bitterly and said while crying, my husband has just died and you are a great devotee of Ramji, please keep him alive. Even after knowing this, Tulsidas did not get distracted even a bit and had full faith in his grace. Because he knows very well that Rama will take care of the bad things and his blessings will not go in vain. He asked everyone present including the woman to chant the name of Shri Ram. Everyone did the same and the dead man came back to life chanting the name of Shri Rama. When Emperor Akbar came to know about this, he called Tulsidas to his palace and asked him to perform some miracle to test him in a large crowd. Hearing all this, Tulsidas told Akbar without any fear that he is not a miraculous saint, only a devotee of Shri Ramji. Akbar got angry after hearing this and at the same time he told the soldiers to tie Tulsidas with iron chains. He maintained his faith even in jail and composed Hanuman Chalisa there and recited it continuously for 40 days On the fortieth day, Akbar's palace was simultaneously attacked by thousands of monkeys Akbar now knew the true meaning of being a devotee of Rama

SHLOK KULKARNI

The Hanuman Chalisa has impacted people's lives in many ways It gives people the courage and strength to solve their own problems, and overcome their fears It is believed that reciting it can give protection from fears, and illnesses. It shows people the true meaning of devotion, and it helps people stay committed. At home, I recite the Hanuman Chalisa with my mom and my sister, and it makes me feel uplifted. It feels like I have the courage to do anything. The most famous and known verses are:

”Shri Guru Charan Saroj Raj, Nij mane mukure sudhar, Varnao Raghuvar Vimal Jasu, Jo dayaku phal char”.

They mean, “After cleansing the mirror of my mind with the pollen, dust of holy Guru's Lotus feet I Profess the pure, untainted glory of Shri Raghuvar which bestows the four-fold fruits of life (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha)” The hanuman chalisa explains Lord Hanuman's qualities such as his bravery and courage, and shows the feats he has accomplished, such as lifting and carrying an entire mountain, just to bring back a medicinal herb that could save Lord Lakshmana's life The hanuman chalisa is a great Hindu prayer, to help vanquish all sorrows, and help people.

Namaste!

My name is Sanvee Bachu, and I would like to share my Holi knowledge with you all.

We all know that Holi is a festival of colors. But do you know that it’s a celebration of “Victory of good over bad”?

BHAVANI SHAKHA PEARLAND

Here is the Story line:

Hiranyakshyap was a demon king. His son Prahlad was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. However, his devotion was an issue for his father. So, Hiranyakashyap tried to kill his son Prahlad several times - but he failed.

Therefore, Hiranyakshyap seeks help from his sister Holika. However, Prahlad started chanting Lord Vishnu’s name and Lord Vishnu saved Prahlad by killing Holika in flames. To symbolize that even today we do Holika dahan.

So, the moral is Victory of good over bad.

SANVEE BACHU

KESHAV SHAKHA

HOUSTON

Holi is a festival of colors In India, Holi is celebrated in the month of February or March In Marathi calendar, Holi is celebrated in the month of Falgun.

Hindu people put a big fire in front of their house. It is believed that we burn all our evil thoughts and bad habits into this holy fire.

On the next day of Holi, people play colors and enjoy this festival with Indian traditional sweets e.g. Puran Poli.

In Hindu mythology, there is a very interesting story of Holi. Once upon time, there was a king named Hiranyakashipu. He claimed himself as a God and asked people to worship him. He had a son named Prahlada. Prahlada refused to worship king Hiranyakashipu. This made the king angry. The king decided to punish Prahlada King took the help of his sister named Holika, who had a special power to survive in fire He ordered to put the Holika and Prahlad on fire Surprisingly, Prahlad survived in fire and Holika did not. This started tradition of Holi to burn the evil. The name Holi came from name Holika.

MEENAKSHI SHAKHA PEARLAND

SUHAS RAPAKA

HOLI

Holi, often called the "festival of colors," is a vibrant and joyful Hindu celebration that marks spring’s arrival, the triumph of good over evil, and the love between Radha and Krishna.

This festival, mainly observed in South Asia but also recognized globally, typically spans two days and is rooted in ancient traditions, mythology and community gatherings Its date changes, as it is based on the full moon in the month of Phalguna, part of the Hindu lunar calendar

Colors play a significant role in Holi, representing many emotions and elements of nature. Red symbolizes love and fertility, yellow signifies prosperity and new beginnings, blue is associated with the divine Krishna and green embodies the rejuvenation of life and the onset of spring.

Holi, dating back to the 4th century as one of the most prominent Hindu celebrations and is famous for the playful tossing of colored powders and water.

In India, where Holi is a national holiday, festivities traditionally begin with Holika Dahan the night before the main event. People light bonfires to honor the triumph of righteousness and sing and dance around them They might also throw wood, leaves, grains or chickpeas into the flames as a symbolic gesture of letting go of negativity and welcoming the new season with positivity

In conclusion, Holi's origins are deeply submerged in Hindu mythology, enriched with various stories and legends. One famous myth revolves around the legend of an arrogant and powerful demon king, Hiranyakashipu, and his son Prahlad, who defied his father's wishes by worshipping the deity, Vishnu. In a bid to kill Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu conspired with his sister, Holika, to burn him alive. But through divine intervention, Prahlad was unharmed, while Holika disappeared in the flames of . The legend symbolizes the victory of good over evil, a theme central to Holi celebrations.

TANAJI SHAKHA SUGARLAND

NAIMA MALLYA

THE FESTIVAL OF HOLI

This story of Holi relates to Satya Yuga. It is about Prahlad and his father Hiranyakashipu. The father is a demon-king, and the son is a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Father did not like his son always reciting the name of Vishnu and he punished his son several times, in different methods. But Prahlad remained firm in his devotion. Finally, one day, he angrily asked his son, “Where is your Lord Vishnu?” Prahlad said, “He is everywhere.” Hiranyakashipu pointed towards a pillar, “Is he in this pillar also?” Prahlad said, “Yes, my dear father.” With great force, the demonking knocked down the pillar, and to his surprise, Lord Vishnu emerged from the pillar. His form was like half-lion and half human being, that is worshipped as Narasimha Avatar by Hindus He jumped on Hiranyakashipu and killed him on the spot in no time

The theme of Holi is victory of truth over evil. It is celebrated in the Spring season. This year it fell on 25th March. Spring is the king of the seasons, as you see greenery and colorful flowers everywhere. Holi is all about playing with colors too. Gulal is mixed with water and you throw and sprinkle it over your friends and relatives. People greet each other by saying “Happy Holi” and exchange sweets (Mithai).

Let me also say “Happy Holi” to the readers of this article. May this year bring you happiness and prosperity. May you enjoy good health.

Holi is a Hindu spring festival celebrated on the last full moon in the lunar month of Phalguna. It is also known for the festival of colors and is celebrated by throwing colored powder and water at each other. Holi marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, and is a time for people to bond and celebrate. My drawing shows you 3 peopleS playing Holi and enjoying their time

KESHAV SHAKHA HOUSTON

TANAJI SHAKHA SUGARLAND

ADITI KASHYAP

HANUMAN CHALISA

What is Hanuman Chalisa?

Lord Hanuman is a central figure in Ramayana, and he is a devotee of Lord Rama. Hanuman Chalisa is a popular prayer of Hanuman and consists of forty verses, is widely recited by Hindus worldwide.

Story of Hanuman Chalisa

Long ago, In the 16th century, there was a wise saint named Goswami Tulsidasji in India He wrote the Hanuman Chalisa in a language called Awadhi. He was deeply devoted to Lord Sriram and was very spiritual. His devotion spread far and wide and he became very popular.

One day, Emperor Akbar was impressed by Tulsidasji's wisdom and popularity and asked him to work as a minister. But Tulsidasji politely refused saying his king was Lord Shriram. This made the emperor angry, and he put Tulsidasji in jail.

Even in jail, Tulsidasji didn't lose hope. He found refuge in his devotion to Sankata hara Hanuman, one who rescues from difficulties. He wrote the Hanuman Chalisa, a powerful prayer praising Lord Hanuman's greatness.

Soon after Tulsidasji finished writing, something strange happened Monkeys started flooding the city! Seeing this, Emperor Akbar realized Tulsidasji's spiritual strength. With respect, the emperor freed Tulsidasji from jail. This showed that Tulsidasji's devotion to Hanuman was so strong that even monkeys came to his aid. And so, the Hanuman Chalisa not only gave Tulsidasji strength during tough times but also showed the world his deep connection with the divine.

Benefits of Hanuman Chalisa?

Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa bestows one with Intellect, strength, fame, courage, fearlessness, good health, steadfastness, and eloquence.

Jai Shri Ram!

TANAJI SHAKHA SUGARLAND

NIVAN RAO

HOLI

Holi symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

I like Holi because it is a festival of colors and I love to play with colors, play with all my friends and family and enjoy delicious food.

Holi is celebrated at the arrival of spring, the end of winter, and the victory of good over evil Holi is celebrated on the last full moon day of the lunar month of Phalguna This usually falls in late February or early March The day before Holi is known as Chhoti Holi, or small Holi. On this day, people gather around bonfires and offer popcorn and peanuts into the fire. This symbolizes the burning away of negativity and ego.

Holi reminds me of an event that happened in Shakha. When I first joined Shakha, I made a small story book on Prahalad and Holika which I was supposed to read in front of every one, but I could not read the story and the fear in me over powered and my Bala Shikshak - Arpitaji, read the story for me.

Now its just six months passed, with trust in Lord and support from my parents I overcame the fear of public speaking and take part in speech competitions.

Here is the brief story of Prahalad and Holika and how Prahalad’s trust in Lord Vishnu protected him from Holika

There was king named Hiranyakashyap, who believed that he was more powerful than everyone including Lord Vishnu, but his son Prahlad, did not worship his father. Instead, he worshipped the Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashyap was not happy with his son and decided to kill him but failed as Lord Vishnu saved Prahlad every time.

Finally, in desperation, Hiranyakashyap asked his sister, Holika,to kill Prahlad. But the Lord didn't like her evil intentions and took away her magic power! Prahlad sat in the fire and prayed to Lord Vishnu, who saved him while the Holika was burned to fire.

KESHAV

SHAKHA

HOUSTON

BALA ARTWORK - SHRI RAM MANDIR PRAN PRATISHTA VEDA

BHAVANI SHAKHA PEARLAND

BALA ARTWORK - HOLI

AARADHYA TYAGI

TANAJI

SHAKHA

SUGARLAND

BALA ARTWORK - SHRI HANUMAN ADITI KASHYAP

BALA ARTWORK - HOLI

MEENAKSHI

SHAKHA

PEARLAND

KAVYA KULKARNI

TANAJI

SHAKHA

SUGARLAND

BALA ARTWORK - SHIVA

BALA ARTWORK - HOLI

TANAJI

SHAKHA

SUGARLAND

AARNAVI

MALASAMUDRA

BALA ARTWORK - ADIYOGI

TANAJI

SHAKHA

SUGARLAND

SAANVI

MALASAMUDRA

SHAKHA ACTIVITIES

RAM LILA - KESHAV MILAN

SHAKHA ACTIVITIES

MAHASHIVRATRI - TANAJI SHAKHA

SHAKHA ACTIVITIES

HOLI & DOT PAINTING - TANAJI SHAKHA

SHAKHA ACTIVITIES

YOGA DAY - MEENAKSHI & BHAVANI SHAKA

SHAKHA ACTIVITIES

SHRI RAM MANDIR PRAN PRATISHTA UTSAV - MEENAKSHI

SHAKHA

SHAKHA ACTIVITIES

MAKAR SANKRANTI - MEENAKSHI SHAKHA

SÄRTHAKAM||

AGASTYA SHRIVASTAVA 01/15

NAVIKA BHATTAD 02/15

RAGHAVI GHODPAGE 03/25

KUHU DESHMUKH 02/24

SHANAYA SINGH 01/22

SANVEE BACHU 03/23

SHLOK KULKARNI 03/07

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