Bala Vihar is a weekly gathering of children (Preschool to Grade 12/Ages 0 to Ages 18) under the supervision of trained teachers. The aim of Bala Vihar is to help children bloom, grow, and inculcate values through fun-filled activities. Bala Vihar enhances the overall development of the personality of a child at all levels – physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.

Registration Instructions | Pledge Details

2023-24 Bala Vihar Session Information

At Chinmaya Somnath, we offer 3 in-person sessions and one on-line session across CMWRC via Zoom. 

Friday in-person session: starts September 8th at 6:45 PM

Sunday morning in-person session: starts September 10th at 9:15 AM

Sunday afternoon in-person session: starts September 10th at 12:15 PM

Children are a major focus at Chinmaya Somnath. The goal of Bala Vihar is to “wake up the sleeping giant” in our children and inspire them to reach their maximum potential by imparting a value-based education through a specially designed age-appropriate curriculum.

The Bala Vihar program offers weekly spiritual classes for children in their formative school years (Pre K to 12).

A complimentary Shishu Vihar program for children ages 0 to 3 years and Amruta Vihar program for differently abled children ages Pre-K to 12th grade are offered.

The classes are organized by age groups, start and end with Sanskrit prayers, and include chanting, bhajans, stories of devotion and morals, interactive discussions, and creative games.

The sessions are of approximately 90 minutes duration including the common assembly time, and are based on specially designed curriculum.

The idea is to provide an environment where the personality of the child blossoms in a spontaneous way. Good conduct, emotional refinement, intellectual finesse, social responsibility, and a spiritual awareness are developed by the teachers through story-telling from the Puranas and other scriptures, singing of bhajans, chanting of stotrams, games, arts and crafts, plays, and other fun-filled activities. The children are encouraged to be responsible, alert, and sensitive members of society.

Swami Chinmayananda believed that just as the strength of a wall depended on the quality of each brick, so too, the health of a society depended on the individuals. If the individuals are healthy, society is healthy. His strategy for building a new society was to “catch ’em young,” and that is what we are trying to accomplish at Chinmaya Somnath.

Chinmaya Somnath also offers additional classes and activities besides the regular Bala Vihar classes to help the children blossom and develop their multi-faceted talents.

The senior Bala vihar classes provide a forum for youth where they are provided an opportunity to discuss, debate, and understand the logic of our religion and its tenets and to become aware of their potential. After having gained this awareness, their potential is directed into creative channels. The high school students are encouraged to volunteer in the community and participate in social service activities. Additionally, different career choices are discussed along with what it takes to be a professional in those disciplines. The aim of these classes is to prepare today’s youth to be responsible and successful adults of tomorrow.

The annual session runs from September to June, parallel to the regular school calendar.

Registration Instructions | Pledge Details

Children are not vessels to be filled, but lamps to be lit. The seed of spiritual values should be sown in young hearts, and the conditions made favorable for sprouting and steady growth through proper control and discipline. It must be cared for with the warmth of love and affection, and such a tree shall blossom forth flowers of brotherhood, universal love, peace, bliss, beauty, and perfection.

Swami Chinmayananda
Chinmaya Somnath 2023-24 Calendar
All Bala Vihar children participate in various activities, from the youngest Shishu Vihar class to the Chinmayam class for high school youngsters. The grade in which the child is enrolled in his/her school is the basis for placement in the appropriate Bala Vihar class.
For 2023-24, Chinmaya Mission Washington Regional Center is standardizing its curriculum across all regional chapters. A customized curriculum is planned that will be unique for only this year.  It will encompass abridged coursework a student may have covered in a previous class and a more comprehensive inclusion of the academic book for their current year. You will notice two or more core books for each class, and it may appear that your child is repeating material they have already done.  The topic listed in bold will be the major focus of the curriculum and will be supplemented by the other topic(s) listed.
We want our children to transition seamlessly and ensure this course realignment encompasses all the needed foundational concepts for their class grade.

Chinmaya Somnath 2023-24 Calendar

Friday PM Session – 6:45 pm – 8:20 pm

Timings ClassesType
6:45 pm – 7:15 pmAssembly in Auditorium (Parents & Children participate) -30 min assemblyIn-person
7:20 pm Adult and BV classes start
In-person
8:20 pmAdult and BV classes end and dispersal.In-person
6:50 pm – 7:30 pmShishu Vihar ClassIn-person

Sunday AM Session – 9:15 am – 10:50 am

Timings ClassesType
9:15 am – 9:45 amAssembly in Auditorium (Parents & Children participate) -30 min assemblyIn-person
9:50 am Adult and BV classes startIn-Person
10:50 amAdult and BV classes end and dispersal.In-person
9.30 am – 10:00 am Amruta ViharIn-person
9:50 am – 10:30 amShishu Vihar ClassIn-person
11:00 amShloka, Yoga, and other enrichment classes start (except Language)In-person
12:00 pmShloka, Yoga, and other enrichment classes end, and dispersalIn-person

Sunday PM In Session – 12:15 pm – 1:50 pm

Timings ClassType
12:15 pm – 12:45 pmAssembly in Auditorium (Parents & Children participate) -30 min assemblyIn-person
12:50 pm – 1:50 pmBala vihar ClassIn-person

Enrichment Classes

DayTimings Class Type
Sunday11:00 am – 12:00 pmShloka Class In-person
Sunday3:10 pm – 4:10 pmShloka ClassOnline
Sunday11:00 am – 11:50 pmArt Class In-person
Sunday11:00 am – 11:50 pmPerforming Arts(Bharatanatyam) ClassIn-person
Sunday11:00 am – 12:00 pmYoga(For all ages) In-person
Sunday11:00 am – 12:30 pmYouth Leadership Program(YLP) (90 min class)In-Person Meet (2nd and 4th Sundays)
Sunday12 pm – 1 pmHindi Language Class Online
Saturday12 pm – 1 pm Telugu Language Class Online
Sunday12 pm – 1 pmTamil Language ClassOnline
Tuesday7 pm – 7:45 pm
7:50 pm – 8:35 pm
Gujarati Beginner Language ClassOnline
Wednesday8:30 pm – 9:15 pmGujarati Intermediate Language Class Online

Chinmaya Somnath 2023-24 Calendar

Important Notes For Parents!

2023-2024 Bala Vihar Book List

Bala Vihar Class Curriculum
Shishu Vihar (Below 3 yrs)TBA
Amruta Vihar (Special Education)TBA
Ati-Madhuram (Pre-K)TBA
Madhuram (Kindergarten)Alphabet Safari
Satyam (Grades 1, 2) Bala Ramayana and Hanuman
Shivam (Grades 3, 4)Bala Bhagavatam, Krsna, Krsna Everywhere, My Twenty-Four Teachers
Sundaram (Grades 5,6) Symbolism in Hinduism, Sacred land of India
Shivanandam ( Grades 7,8) P.O.Box Mr.God, Vibhishana Geeta (Key to Success), Hindu Culture
Tapovanam (Grades 9,10)Bhagavad Geeta (Chapters 1-9), Yato Dharma Tato Jayah (Mahabharatha)
Chinmayam (Grades 11,12)Bhagavad Geeta (Chapters 10-18)
All new students will receive the Bala Vihar prayers book and a notebook

Suggested Book List for Additional Learning

Bala Vihar ClassOptional Book ListPrice
Ati-Madhuram/Madhuram/SatyamKrishna Loves you
Krishna (Butter bash, Invisible friend, Rocks, Photocopies)
Go Hanuman Go
Hanuman Big Gig
Shiva Shiva Namah Shivaya – $8
Shiva’s Fish Swish
Ganesha Goes to Party
Ganesha Mouscapade
Boogie woogie Ganesha
$8
$6 each
$8
$8
$8
$8
$4
$7
$7
Shivam/ SundaramTarangini Series
Tell me a Story Color Series
Bala Vihar Guru Devs tales
Bala Ramayan
Bala Bhagavatam
Amar Chitra Katha of Swamiji
$6
$6
$3
$6
$6
$2
ShivanandamConflicts and Confusion
Not too Loose, .. Tight, Just Right
Victorious Youth
$2
$2
$2
TapovanamStorm to Perform
Ageless guru
Hindu culture an Introduction
Transforming Indians to transform India
Journey of a Master
Hinduism Frequently asked questions
$5
$6
$8
$10
$10
$5
ChinmayamSrimad Bhagavad Gita
Say Cheese
Self-Unfoldment
We Must
Gita for Children
$5
$4
$10
$12
$3

We expect all children and parents to follow the rules of conduct!

Every family, whether with children or without, whether an existing member or a new applicant for Annual Pledge and Balavihar Registration Pledge, is required to register (please check these helpful instructions) using the Online Registration System. A child may not be enrolled without his/her parent’s enrollment and participation in the Adult Classes. Please note that at least one parent is required to attend the Adult Class while the children are in Bala Vihar. Children CANNOT be left at the Mission premises without a parent.

There is no age requirement to attend Bala Vihar. Children as young as babies can join the Shishu Vihar (0-3 yr. old class), which requires parents also in attendance. 

Please register early to increase the likelihood of being assigned to your first-choice session. Admission and session assignments will be confirmed to you by early August.

For Bala Vihar year 2023-24 there is a referral program. Registered families can refer a new family or returning family who were members later than 2019 are eligible to refer. Both, a family who referred and family who joined through this program will have monetary benefit. For more details, please email to info@chinmayasomnath.org

Only children enrolled in Bala Vihar are eligible to enroll in Performing Arts and Language classes. Students must be at least 6 years of age as of September of the current enrolling year. Registered adult members can enroll in select Performing Arts classes subject to availability of seats after admitting children. Select Language and Performing Arts classes are available for enrollment for non-members as well. Click here for more details on membership and eligibility.

Chinmaya Mission reserves the right to accept or reject admission requests. For admission and session assignment, we recommend early registration. Session assignment is on a first-come basis and subject to capacity limitations (class sizes, Hall Capacity, Parking Lot Capacity, etc.)

Books can be bought through book stores at the Chinmaya Mission centers. In some cases, books can be ordered through the Chinmayam Publications website.

For cancellations of registrations on or before October 7, a full refund of the pledge amount will be given. The Mission will not refund any credit card processing fee incurred by the registrant. A family canceling registration after October 7 will not be entitled to any refund of the pledges paid. For late registrants after October 7, will have 15 days from the date of registration for cancellation with a 50% refund. Thereafter, no refund will be made.

The family’s contact information provided to the Mission will be used only for internal purposes. If any of this information is to be used in flyers, websites, or other publicity material, we will do so only with your permission. From time to time, for publicity purposes, CMWRC will publish photos taken at different Mission sessions or events, without identifying the family members. If we have to identify, we will do so only with your prior permission.

Sevaks (volunteers) are critical to the operation of the chapter and programs.  Chinmaya Mission is a volunteer-run organization. Every member is highly encouraged to serve the mission in their area of interest, based on their skills and expertise.  Selfless dedicated service is the foundation for spiritual growth.  Any amount of time and commitment offered in Seva is welcome.

When registering, please ensure that you provide a current and accurate e-mail address. Please log in and update information promptly if there is any change to your contact e-mail or home address. Most communications between CMWRC and its members, including weather-related cancellations, are handled via e-mail.

Need further help? Click here to contact our Registration Team!

Chinmaya Somnath 2023-24 Calendar