Balagokulam In Japan
What is Balagokulam
It is a forum where –
• Children learn Hindu values in enjoyable manner.
• Hindu children in Japan learn to appreciate their Hindu cultural roots.
• All round personality development is achieved in practice.
• Children make new friends, participate in extra curricular activities, like
skits, songs, etc.
• Children learn a sense of responsibility and grow up to be an ideal citizen.
We are currently having 4 balagokulam (3 in Tokyo and 1 in Kawasaki).
- Ojima Balagokulam
- Funabori Balagokulam
- Nishi Kasai Balagokulam
- Kawasaki Balagokulam
This is a basic format to start and follow Japan Balagokulam. Programs depend on the available space, location and number of children but following is a suggestion for 60 minutes session.
1. Assembly: Basic Sangh commands and introduction about games planned on that particular day
2. Exercise: Warm up and stretching exercises
3. Games: Refer http://www.balagokulam.org/teach/physic.php here for all types of games. Some games takes longer time to before children gets used to but keep trying for 2-3 weeks before it is finally registered. Based on age and number of children some of games are not feasible, so make sure to keep some backup plan ready.
4. Surya Namaskar: All children to memories all 12 mantra and 12 asanas of Surya Namaskar. We call all postures with number but to get the 12 Mantra memories, teacher need to call each posture by respective mantra.
5. Story/Discussion Shloka,Bhajans
All children to do a 15 mins project in year
1. Know my state – Some facts and knows stories about state
2. Know my mother language – What is interesting in his/her mother tongue and few words/sentences that others can remember.
3. Famous temples visited last and importance of that temple.
All Children to memories at least 3 slokas
World peace prayer
Lyrics in Sanskrit
Transliterated in English
Meaning in English
ॐ सह नाववतु।
सह नौ भुनक्तु।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु
मा विद्विषावहै।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Oṁ Saha nāvavatu
saha nau bhunaktu
Saha vīryam karavāvahai
Tejasvi nāvadhītamast
Mā vidviṣāvahai
Oṁ Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ
Om, May we all be protected
May we all be nourished
May we work together with great energy
May our intellect be sharpened (may our study be effective)
Let there be no Animosity amongst us
Om, peace (in me), peace (in nature), peace (in divine forces)
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः।
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु।
मा कश्चित् दुःख भाग्भवेत्॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om, Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ
Sarve santu nirāmayāḥ
Sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu
Mā kashchit duḥkha bhāgbhavet
Oṁ Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ
May all be prosperous and happy
May all be free from illness
May all see what is spiritually uplifting
May no one suffer
Om peace, peace, peace
सर्वेषां स्वस्तिर्भवतु ।
सर्वेषां शान्तिर्भवतु ।
सर्वेषां पूर्नं भवतु ।
सर्वेषां मड्गलं भवतु ॥
Sarveśām Svastir Bhavatu
Sarveśām Shāntir Bhavatu
Sarveśām Pūrnam Bhavatu
Sarveśām Maṇgalam Bhavatu
May there be happiness in all
May there be peace in all
May there be completeness in all
May there be success in all
6. Prarthana
Either any of the above mantras can be used as prarthana or HSS parartha
Events
Balagokulam yearly Event schedule – 2018
Date Event
12-May-2018 (Saturday) Balagokulam get together with orphanage children
28-July-2018 (Saturday) Summer Camp
25-November-2018 (Sunday) Marathon
Medical Kit
Teacher to keep a first-aid box with them while running Balagokulam in case some small injuries like scratches and brushes are caused during games
Resources
Refer USA HSS Balagokulam site for many other details
http://www.balagokulam.org/