 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Past Events========================================================================== April 1st 2012: Ram Navami Music Concert & Hanuman Puppet Making Venue: M A CenterTime: 1:30- 5:00 PM On the occassion of Ramnavami & Hanuman Jayanthi in the month of April there is a special event being held on Sunday April 1st, 2012 from 1.30pm to 4pm . Students from 8 music schools will be performing Ram Bhajans at the M A Center.students. Families are invited to attend this event (free of charge). For more information please click on the link below Please click on the link below to register. ========================================================================== Sunday April 1st, 2012 from 3:00PM -5:00 PM There is also going to be a Hanuman puppet making event on this day for all children. This is going to be conducted by Jenean Watrous in the Snack tent. For younger children, a template will be provided and they may color in their Hanuman puppet. Older children, if they choose, may follow a MonArt-style lesson, where Hanuman is sketched and then put into a final draft in order to create their puppet. After puppets have been drawn/colored cut and pasted, a simple (call and repeat) song will be taught to the children. The culmination of the class, includes a Hanuman story, told through puppetry and inviting everyone to join along with their puppet in song. Please click on the link below to register. ========================================================================== March 17th 2012: Homeless feeding Venue: St. Anthony of Padua Church 3215 Cesar Chavez St. (between Folsom and Shotwell) San Francisco, CA 94110 Time: 3:15PM ======================================== February 20th 2012: Children's Satsang & Marshmallow Roasting Venue:M A Center (Meadow near the pond) Time: 4:00PM-7:30PM The Children's satsang will begin with the children leading the bhajans.This will then be followed by roasting marshmallows. The schedule for the evening is below: 4:00 pm -6:00 pm- Children's Bhajans 6:00 pm- 6:30 pm- Roasting Marsmallows 6:30 pm-Arati 6:45 pm - 7:30 pm - Potluck Dinner & Prasad January 15th 2012: Eco Day Venue:M A Center Venue: Home of Shailendra & Swati DhaktodeTime: 1:30PM-4:30PM Time: 6:00PM Click here to read children's satsang guidelines. =======================================Dec 18th 2011: Regular Class Time: 3:00 pm Venue: M A Center The schedule for the class is: 3:00 to 3:30 pm: Mantra practice and recitation class 3:30 to 5:30 pm: Regular class including group prayer, stories, discussion, bhajans, and other activities. ======================================== December 11th 2011: Annual Nursing Home visit Time: 2-4pm Venue: Lifehouse Castro Valley Healthcare ======================================== Dec 4th 2011: Regular Class 3:00 to 3:30 pm: Mantra practice and recitation class 3:30 to 5:30 pm: Regular class including group prayer, stories, discussion, bhajans, and other activities. ======================================== December 2nd 2011: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Home of Raj & Usha ======================================== October 29th, 2011: Homeless Feeding Time: 5:00pm sharp. (We will start serving food at 5:45pm) Venue: Abode Services- “ Sunrise Village ” ======================================== October 16th 2011: Sunol Hike & Kite Flying Time: 2:30 PM Venue: Sunol Regional Park The Bala Kendra families have been invited to participate in 'Hiking with Kids and Kite flying' . Please click on the link below to see pictures from our previous hiking trip. http://picasaweb.google.com/balakendra/HikePhotos_Mar2010# ======================================== Pottery Workshop on Glazing & Decorating: October 8th: Time: 2PM-4PM October 9th: Time: 10 AM-4PM Venue: M A Center (Kitchen Tent) The workshop will include demonstrations by knitters, weavers & craftspeople. ======================================== October 7th 2011: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Home of Sanjay & Deepali Anavekar ======================================== September 27th, 2011: Amma's Birthday Children's Variety Show: Venue: M A Center Time: 4:45 PM-5:45PM On the occassion of Amma's birthday the kids will do very nice presentations with a mix of instrumental, voice, skit, etc. Each child can do an offering of their talent individually or a group can do a presentation. We have a total of about 45 minutes available for the kids. Below are some of the guidelines for the program. 1) The performance should not last more than 2 minutes for individual presentations & 3 minutes for group presentations. We encourage group presentations so we can give more kids an opportunity to perform. 2) You should be able to reach the ashram by 4:30 PM. 3) The items should be cultural not bhajan singing as that will be done later in the evening. ======================================== September 7th, 2011: Ganesh Chathurthi - Immersion of Clay Murthis Time: 7:00 pmVenue: M A Center The festivities will culminate with the**Visarjana (ceremonial immersion) of Lord Ganesha in the Ashram Pond.* The symbolism of this ceremony is that all forms are temporary, having both their origin and final destination in the formless Absolute. We will meet at Amrita Hall before processing to the pond and will return there for bhajans afterwards. ========================================September 5th, 2011: Saraswati Pooja Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Venue: M. A Center A right start is important for anything that we do.Come and join other kids for a Saraswati Pooja to mark the beginning of the school year. This event is designed to involve kids in invoking the blessings of Mother Saraswati.Let's help kids achieve their best in school and everything they do. Please click on the link below to register for this event. ======================================== August 27th, 2011: Ganesh Chathurthi - Making of Clay Murthis. Time: 3:00 pm Venue: M A Center This coming Saturday, August 27,* *starting at 3:00pm, we will begin the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi,* the Birthday of Lord Ganesha. Everyone will have the opportunity to make his/her own individual Ganesh murthi (clay statue) ======================================== August 21st 2011: Sri Krishna Jayanthi, Birthday of Lord Krishna Time: 7:00 pm- 12 Midnight Venue: M A Center Program will include: Games, Dances, Spiritual Talk and Devotional Singing and will culminate with scripture reading of the Birth of Lord Krishna from the Srimad Bhagavatam and the Sacred Bath (puja). Kindly refer to the schedule below. *Schedule: * 6:30 pm: Early serving of Dinner 7:00 pm: Games (for kids of all ages!) 7:45 pm: Children’s Performance 8:00 pm: Satsang & Bhajans with Dayamrita Swami 9:15 pm: Dinner Break 10:00 pm: Bhajans and Circle Dance 11:30 pm: Reading from Srimat Bhagavatam 12:00 am: Sacred Bath of Lord Sri Krishna followed by Arati & Prasad Distribution ======================================== August 14th 2011: Pool Party Time: 2:00 PM Venue: Home of Deepak & Priya Pillai Its Summer and its time for the Balakendra Annual Pool Party! If you are in town then please join us. It will be a nice play date for the kids and also for the parents.Things to bring: Swimwear, goggles, towel, water shoes/flip flops, floats/noodles/water toys, sunscreen, sun hat, change of clothes, folding chairs Agenda: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Swim Time 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Snack Time (Potluck) 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Bhajans and closing prayer ======================================== June 4 2011: Presentation to Amma Time: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Venue: M.A.Center Note that June 4 is the date of the presentation to Amma and the devotees. The children will sing bhajans and then a short skit and a dance will also be presented. Please make sure you reserve from 11 am to 3 pm for the program which will be in Amrita Hall where we usually have classes. Families can go for darshan after the program. Kindly assemble in the Peach Cottage (on the left as you enter the ashram, opposite the vegetable garden) at noon so we can prepare to go up to the hall together and also warm-up for the bhajans. Kindly make sure that kids have had a hearty lunch before coming. As you come into the ashram, please let the parking staff know that the children are coming to the ashram for a presentation to Amma. The staff should be willing to accomodate the families for parking on the ashram property. ======================================== June 3 2011: Special Children's Welcome for Amma Venue: M. A. Center Time: 7:00PM On Friday evening the kids will have a chance to greet Amma as she arrives for evening bhajans. We would like to make this a spiritual costume offering with the kids lining up along the way as Amma walks into the hall. The kids will line up on both sides of the aisle (middle of Amrita Hall) that Amma uses to reach the stage. Kids can dress up as Gopis, as Gopas, or other divine personalities from the puranas or as saints. Amma always likes to see the kids dressed up. Some of the kids will be given flower petals, others may hold deepaks, etc. This special offering is in honor of Amma's 25th anniversary of coming to the Bay Area. The kids will be asked to sing "Aye Guru Maharani Mata Amritanandamayi" as Amma walks in and up the stage. The kids can then follow Amma up the stage and sit on the stage as she conducts the evening program. Amma loves to see the children happy and celebrating. ======================================== May 1 2011: Yoga Workshop Time: 10:00 AM - 1: PM Venue: M.A.Center Amrita Balakendra would be proudly presenting a Yoga Workshop on May 1st between 10 am and 1 pm. As part of the workshop separate yoga sessions will be held simultaneously for Ladies, Gents, Younger Kids (4 - 8 years) and Older Kids (8 - 16 years). The program is open to public and the program flyer is attached. Please forward this to any of your friends that may be interested.Please register for this program by going to http://balakendra.eventbrite.com/ ============================================ April 24th: Regular Bala Kendra Class & Joint Bhajan Practice Time: 3:00PM Venue: Home of Sujatha & Ranjith The kids are tentatively scheduled to present to Amma on June 4, Saturday (late morning). Both the San Ramon and South Bay Bala Kendra groups will be singing three bhajans together as a part of the presentation (Guru Charanam, You Mean Everything to Me, Dinom Ke Dukh Harta). The joint bhajan practice is to coordinate singing together. Schedule: 3 pm Opening Prayers. 3:15 pm Joint Bhajan Practice. 4 pm Regular Classes for all groups. 5 pm Mantra Practice for San Ramon group. 5:30 pm Aarati. ======================================== Apr 9 2011: Bala Kendra Bake Sale Venue: M. A. Center Time: 6:30 PM-9:30 PM The Bala Kendra Group was recently added to the group of Satsangs that participate in the Saturday bake sale. The bake sale has been taking place at the M.A Center for almost 10 years. The net proceeds from the bake sale help support Amma's housing project in India and other countries around the world. This project is called Amrita Kuteeram and has built more than 40,000 homes so far. It is an opportunity to take part in this bake sale. The best way to help the bake sale is by bringing in homemade baked goods.======================================== Apr 1 2011: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Home of Shailendra & Swati Dhaktode Click here to read children's satsang guidelines. ========================================March 16th: Ski Trip Time: 6:15AM Venue: Dublin Best Buy Complex As part of our Amrita Bala Kendra annual winter activities, We are planning for a one-day trip to Pinecrest for our Children to learn skiing and have fun with tubing and sledding (sled-riding). We are goin to Pinecrest (Dodgeridge) where they provide group lesson for young children particularly for first timers. I am sure this will be a great trip and children will get motivated to learn ski along with their friends. After the Ski lessons, Children can have fun time with tubing and Sledding there. Very young children (under 5-6 years old) can skip Ski lessons and enjoy their day playing with ice and can do Sledding. ======================================== Feb 11 2011: Screening Movie "Dirt" Time: 7:00 PMVenue: M.A Center ======================================== Jan 16 2011: Eco Day Time: 2 pm Click here to read children's satsang guidelines. ======================================== Dec 19 2010: Bala Kendra Class (No Shruti Class) 3:00 to 3:30 pm: Mantra practice and recitation class 3:30 to 5:30 pm: Regular class including group prayer, stories, discussion, bhajans, and other activities. Venue: Home of Sujatha & Ranjith The class will be followed by a potluck dinner and some singing, celebration, etc. ======================================== Dec 12 2010: Annual Visit to Nursing Home to share with the elderly Time: 2PM-4PM Venue: LifeHouse Castro Valley Healthcare This is our annual visit to LifeHouse Castro Valley nursing home to bring the Christmas spirit and caroling for the residents. Christmas Carols will be sent out towards middle of November, so everyone can practice with musical instruments and singing. We will be doing practice right before the main performance(like last year). That is why we need you to practice at home before meeting. ======================================== Dec 3 2010: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 7 pm Click here to read children's satsang guidelines. ======================================== Nov 14 2010: Bala Kendra Class 2:30 to 3:00 pm: Shruthi Class 3:00 to 3:30 pm: Mantra practice and recitation class 3:30 to 5:30 pm: Regular class including group prayer, stories, discussion, bhajans, and other activities. Venue: Home of Kamal Panda ======================================== Nov 12 2010: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 7 pm Venue: Home of Krish & Hema Sivakumar. Click here to read children's satsang guidelines. ======================================== Oct 1 2010: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 7 pm Venue: Home of Maya & Brehon Kundaserry Click here to read children's satsang guidelines. ======================================== Sept 6 2010: Labor Day Hike & Kite Flying Time: 3 pm Venue: Sunol Wilderness. After little break, it is time to start our Balakendra outdoor activities again... Let's start with hiking and Kite flying during Labour day weekend . As this will be the first long weekend after the start of school year, it should be very relaxing for both children and families. ======================================== Sept 3 2010: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 7 pm Venue: Home of Shailendra & Swati. ======================================== August 22 2010: Saraswati Pooja and Beginning of New Bala Kendra Semester. Time : 2 pm Venue : M.A. Center Come and mark an auspicious beginning for the school year 2010-11 with a Saraswati Pooja.This is when kids, with guidance from adults, conduct a Saraswati Pooja themselves and invoke Mother Saraswati's blessings.There will be songs, stories and a Saraswati picture that the kids can take home. Since seating is limited, so please register early. You can register at http://saraswatipooja2010.eventbrite.com ======================================== August 1 2010: Rice Packing for Poor Families and Beach Picnic Time : 10:30 am to 6 pm. Venue : Carmel ======================================== June 5 2010: Presentation to Amma by Bala Kendra Children & Parents Time: 11:00 AM Venue: M A Center ======================================== May 23 2010: Regular Class & Distribution of Certificates & Trophies Time: 2:30Pm Venue: Home of Krish & Hema ======================================== May 16 2010: Regular Class Time: 2:30Pm Venue: Home of Lalitha Subramaniam ====================================== May 9 2010: End of year picnic & Holi Celebration Time: 11 AM-5PM Venue:M A Center ( Meadow besides the Pond) ====================================== May 7 2010: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 7 pm Venue: Home of Venu and Viji ======================================== Apr 4 2010: Eco Day & Easter Egg Hunt Time: 2 pmVenue: MA Center Our quest for a greener earth continues this Easter with a combined tree planting and egg hunt. The kids had good fun last year hunting for eggs around the Ashram and then heading out to plant trees. ================================== Apr 2 2010: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 7 pm Venue: Home of Ranjith & Sujatha ===================================== March 27 Clay Event Time: 9am- 4 pmVenue: M A Center There is fun activity and seva opportunity for children and adults to make garden markers for the ashram's community garden. The kids and adults will have an opportunity to make garden markers for the MA Center Community Garden and Amma's Orchard, as well as watch profesional potters make pots on a wheel. A real art! The 300 pots we are making on this day will be used for the Sani Pujas Amma has asked Dayamrita Swami to perform here at the MA Center, starting next Fall. The Shiva Lingam is on its way from India! We are very blessed. ======================================== Mar 21 2010:Hike to Mission Peak (Fremont) Time: 2 pm The Bala Kendra families have been invited to participate in 'Hiking with Kids' at Mission Peak, Fremont. ====================================== Mar 7 2010: Games & Arts Day Time: 2:30 pm-5:30 pm Venue: Ragini & Guna's Residence Several age appropriate activities for children aged 4-14. Arts / Crafts projects: Children will work on individual art projects like picture frames, garlands, bookmarks, and bead bracelets that they can take home with them. There will also be a collage competition! The activities will be structured to cater to both the younger and the older children. Group activities: Children will collaborate on an art project that will be presented to our Beloved AMMA when She visits Bay Area in June 2010. There will also be another surprise group activity for the kids. Games: Several fun indoor or outdoor (depending on the weather) games are being planned. ======================================== Mar 5 2010: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 7 pm Venue: Home of Smruti-Dinesh, Ashka and Varun ======================================== Feb 5 2010: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 7 pm Venue: Home of Sangeetha and Hari ======================================== Jan 1 2010: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 7 pm Venue: Home of Anita and Sudhir Aggarwal ======================================== Dec 20: Final Class of Semester and End of Holiday Season Celebration Time: 3 pm Venue: Home of Nivedita and Kamal Panda ======================================== Dec 4: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 7 pm Venue: Home of Raj and Usha Sekar ======================================== Dec 13: Annual Christmas Caroling Visit to Nursing Home Time: 2 pm Please mark your calendars for Dec 13, 2009 as the date for our annual Christmas Caroling visit to the Nursing Home in Castro Valley. The Nursing home details are below. The visit with the elderly patients there will be from 2PM to 4PM. We will have some practice sessions with some popular carols in Nov-early Dec. Last year some of the children performed their instruments along with others singing.More to come later. For right now, just want to make sure you can put it on your Dec calendars. LifeHouse Castro Valley Healthcare 20259 Lake Chabot Rd Castro Valley , CA 94546 Map (510) 351-3700 ======================================== Nov 6: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 7 pm Venue: Krish and Hema Sivakumar ======================================== Nov 1: Environmental Event Time: 2:30-5pm Venue: M A Center ======================================== Oct 18: Hiking with Kids Time: 2 pm The Bala Kendra families have been invited to participate in 'Hiking with Kids' at Sunol Regional park (http://www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol) on Sunday, October 18th @ 2 pm. There are many, many miles of beautiful trails to explore very close to our city, so lets get out there with kids and take a hike! It can be a little challenging for the kids but very rewarding when they get on the little bench located on a hill overlooking the entire valley. We will be choosing the trial that will be ideal for the children of all ages and also for the parents who are hiking for the first time. ======================================== Oct 2: East Bay Children's Satsang Time: 7 pm Venue: Home of Guna and Ragini By chance, this is also Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday and perhaps we can do something related to that with the kids. ======================================== April 17th: Earth Day Green friends and the M.A Center warmly invite you to our annual Earth Day Celebration ! A day of fun and education for the whole family that will include: a walking meditation, spring picnic in the meadow, live music and games for kids of all ages. Please click below for more details and earth day poster. Time: 7 pm Click here to read children's satsang guidelines. ======================================== September 4th, 2011: Rice Packing & Beach Picnic Time: 10:30 AM- 1:00 PM Venue: Carmel CA If you can donate school supplies to the children of the migrant families, please bring to Sandhya & Ramesh Kolar's house on Forest St in Carmel on that day. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.Bring family and friends. Bring some picnic food with you. It is hard to go & buy locally since parking can be very difficult near the beach. Don't forget sunblock lotion, hats, water/juice, folding chairs, mats/rugs to spread on the sand, swim suits/towels/ etc. Please click on the link below for additional information. ======================================== The character trait of this time of the year is Giving. We enjoy spending quality time with family and friends and love sharing gifts. With that in mind, please also consider giving back to the Mother Nature who is nurturing us by providing the essential nutrients of life. Join us in serving Mother nature by participating in the Day of Service 2012 on January 15, 2012. As some of you already know, this event is planned especially for kids where Amrita Bala Kendra, Common Vision, and the Green Friends collaborate together to provide a fun filled nature education afternoon for kids of all ages. Kids will learn about nature and will participate in a tree planting event. The event is also designed to celebrate the National Day of Service (birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) ====================================== January 6th 2012: East Bay Children's Satsang & New Year Celebration ======================================== http://wintercampfirechildrenssatsang.eventbrite.com/ The event is open to all so don't forget to invite your friends as well. Additional info about the children's satsang can be found at http://www.balakendra.org/childrens-satsang-guidelines.html ======================================== |
|
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved
|