Please make sure to print and fill out a copy of our registration form if you are interested in joining our classes.
Class Timings
Weekly class timings for each of our classes are as follows:
- Main Balavihar Classes (KG to Grade 12): Sundays 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Weekday Adult Study Group: Tuesdays 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- This class is separate from our Sunday Adult Study Group sessions
- For more information on the Weekday Adult class, please call: 905-814-4555
All of the above classes only take place during the regular school year as per Halton District School Board’s school schedule. Please refer to our schedule for a complete list of the class dates and festivals for the present year.
Our classes are currently held at the below address for the 2024-25 school year:
Community Living North Halton
917 Nipissing Rd B
Milton ON L9T 5E3
Please contact us for more details if you are interested in classes.
What is Balavihar?
“Our children are our joy. No amount of effort put in or time given to them can be considered enough. Our efforts, however, ought to be in the right direction and the time given must be quality time. It is found children reluctantly respond to formal schooling and traditional methods of learning, whereas, they are ever ready for games and sports.”
Recognizing this, Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda initiated Balavihar classes. Its objectives can be summed up in the following statement:
‘To help children learn values with fun; to delight like the moon and shine like the sun! ‘
Chinmaya worldwide has been conducting Balavihar classes for many years. Balavihar is…
- A group where children meet for 90 minutes each week to learn about the Hindu culture, traditions and stories,
- A place where children learn high ideals and stories from Hindu scriptures taught in the form of stories, arts and crafts and drama,
- Where children and teenagers from ages 4 – 18 years learn chanting of Bhagawad Geeta and Upanishads,
- A group that have special outings to celebrate India’s great festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Holi and Deepavali, and
- Where plain fun is all about learning Santana Dharma.
Continue to scroll down this page for all class curricula for this year.
2024-25 Curriculum: Kindergarten to Grade 3
Book(s): Dashavatar Tales for Children – 10 Avatars of Lord Vishnu
Dashavatar refers to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu — the O (or operator in the word GOD).
Whenever evil surpasses righteousness leading to chaos, Lord Vishnu takes various incarnations to restore order and tranquility in the universe. This beautiful collection is to tell the children stories of the various incarnations.
Through Arts and Crafts, chanting and bhajans, the children will be able to learn about the various aspects of Lord Vishna and his role in the times of troubles through the ages.
2024-25 Curriculum: Grades 4 through 6
Book(s): Why do we…
Rituals are performed to inculcate spirituality in day to day life
This book will teach the children many aspects of rituals performed through stories, arts and crafts and other interactive sessions.
For example: Why do we light a lamp? Why do we wear a bindi?
Children will create an exhibit with all their activities called a “Hinduism Tree.”
2024-25 Curriculum: Grades 7 through 12
Book(s): Drop – It’s Easy! A Yuvaveer Initiative
This book is about you. Yes You! It doesn’t exist without you.
- Easy to read
- Designed to creatively show one’s own personality
- Activities to help take shape with one’s thoughts, imagination and sincerity
2024-25 Curriculum: Adults Study Group (Sundays)
Book(s): Kindle Life
A preliminary text of Vedantic studies, this work lays a very good foundation for all advanced studies. Full of guidance for right living, the book inspires every reader to pursue true spirituality. The language here is simple, yet forceful. Avoiding Technical jargon, Pujya Gurudev initiates us into the essentials of a higher, value-based life. Organized into over thirty lessons or essays, the material here is ideal for a novice.
A great benefit from the timeless piece of Self-development literature.
Adult Study Group (Weekdays)
Book(s): The Bhagavad Geeta
Bhagavad Gita is ‘The Lord’s Song’ or the ‘Song Celestial’ as Edwin Arnold calls it. It is the most popular and probably the single most influential text in Hindu philosophy. It is certainly one of the world’s greatest scriptures. The message of Geeta is universal in its scope, and it opens the gate of deliverance to all without distinction. Lord Krishna states, “Through whatever paths men seek to come unto Me, I accept them through those very paths; all paths which men take, O Arjuna, lead ultimately unto Me only.”
Although there are many commentaries on Geeta it is the careful analysis and brilliant reasoning of Swami Chinmayananda’s version that makes it so exceptional. There is a constant attempt to bring forth from each verse not only its literal meanings but also its hidden import that reveals a wealth of knowledge. (from Chinmaya Publications)
This class has been going on for over 12 years.
