Austin About balvihar

About Balvihar

The Chinmaya Mission Balavihar program offers weekly spiritual classes for children in their formative years. Our teachers are volunteers trained by Priya Ji and Rahul Ji, and periodic teachers' training. The classes are categorized by school grades. They start and end with Sanskrit prayers and include chanting, bhajans, interactive discussions, creative games, and stories of devotion and morals drawn from our scriptures. As envisioned in our culture, the children learn the stories of the Puranas, moving to the character building of our Itihasas, and then graduate to self-unfoldment through Vedantic teachings.

Conducted worldwide, the 90-minute classes (half hour assembly followed by one hour class) are based on a specifically laddered, dynamic curriculum, with the aim of accomplishing the Bala Vihar rationale set forth by Swami Chinmayananda:

To instill in our children a reverence for our ancient culture, and inspire them to live up to it with correct understanding.
To create self-confidence that will enable them to serve and act cheerfully.
To inculcate personal discipline, dynamic leadership, and true affection in all contacts.
To mold their capacity to brilliantly express their individuality.
To bring out their dormant faculties and detect defects, and to cultivate and improve their creative abilities.
To help our children develop a healthy resistance against temptations in the atmosphere in which they grow.
To provide an atmosphere that will enable our children to grow with noble ideals, healthy emotions, and physical discipline.

Schedule for 2025 - 2026

You will attend the session selected at the beginning of the Bala Vihar year. Any change of session is subject to seat availability.

Session 1 – Sunday (8:30 AM – 10:00 AM)
- 8:30 AM: Opening Prayers
- 9:00 AM: Bala Vihar
- 9:00 AM: Bhagavad Geeta Adult Satsang
Session 2 – Sunday (11:30 AM – 1:00 PM)
- 11:30 AM: Opening Prayers
- 12:00 PM: Bala Vihar
- 12:00 PM: Bhagavad Geeta Adult Satsang
Shishu Vihar – Sunday (11:15 AM – 12:00 PM)
- Parent-child class
Optional – Sunday (10:15 AM – 11:15 AM)
- 10:15 AM: Hindi Language
- 10:15 AM: Bhagavad Geeta Chanting
- 10:15 AM: Kids Swaranjali

Calendar

Bala Vihar 2025–2026

Chinmaya Mission Austin 2025–2026 Bala Vihar Calendar (Sunday AM & PM Sessions)
Aug 17	Bala Vihar Class (BV Opening Weekend)
Aug 24	Ganesh Chaturthi - Fri BV classes join on Sun
Aug 31	No Class (Labor Day)
Sept 7	Swamiji’s visit - Fri BV classes join on Sun
Sept 14	Bala Vihar Class
Sept 21	Bala Vihar Class (BV Parent/Teacher Meet)
Sept 28	Bala Vihar Class
Oct 5, 12	Bala Vihar Class
Oct 19	No Class / Combined Diwali Celebration
Oct 26	Bala Vihar Class
Nov 2, 9, 16, 23	Bala Vihar Class
Nov 30	No Class (Thanksgiving Break)
Dec 7, 14	Bala Vihar Class
Dec 21, 28	No Class (Winter Break)
Jan 4, 11, 18	Bala Vihar Class
Jan 25	No Class (Inclement Weather)
Feb 1, 8	Bala Vihar Class
Feb 15	No Class (Maha Shivratri)
Feb 22	Bala Vihar Class
Mar 1, 8	Bala Vihar Class
Mar 15	No Class (Spring Break)
Mar 22	Bala Vihar Class
Mar 29	No Class / Combined Holi Celebration
Apr 5, 12, 19, 26	Bala Vihar Class
May 3	Bala Vihar Class (Parents’ Day)
May 10	Gurudev Jayanti Celebration
May 17	No Class / Combined BV Class of 2026 Graduation

Chinmaya Mission Austin 2026-2027 Bala Vihar Calendar
(Sunday AM & PM Sessions)

Date	Details
Aug 23	Bala Vihar Class (BV Opening Weekend)
Aug 30	Bala Vihar Class
Sept 6	No Class (Labor Day)
Sept 13	Bala Vihar Class (Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations)
Sept 20	Bala Vihar Class (BV Parent/Teacher Meet)
Sept 27	Bala Vihar Class
Oct 4	No Class / Samashti Gita Chanting
Oct 11, 18, 25	Bala Vihar Class
Nov 1	Bala Vihar Class
Nov 8	No Class / Diwali
Nov 15, 22	Bala Vihar Class
Nov 29	No Class (Thanksgiving Break)
Dec 6, 13	Bala Vihar Class
Dec 20, 27, Jan 3	No Class (Winter Break)
Jan 10, 17, 24, 31, Feb 7	Bala Vihar Class
Feb 14	No Class / Presidents’ Day / Bad Weather Day
Feb 21, 28	Bala Vihar Class
Mar 7	No Class / Maha Shivratri
Mar 14	No Class (Spring Break)
Mar 21	Bala Vihar Class
Mar 28	No Class / Holi Celebration
Apr 4, 11, 18, 25	Bala Vihar Class
May 2	Bala Vihar Class (Parents’ Day)
May 9	Last Day of Class / Gurudev Jayanti Celebration
May 16	No Class / BV Class of 2027 Graduation

Bala Vihar Registration 2025–26

Registration is now open!

BV Session 1 — Sunday 8:30–10:00 AM

Chinmaya Mission's Bala Vihar is a cultural & spiritual value-based education program for Pre-K to 12th grade, creating balanced individuals who contribute positively to society. Session 1 is held every Sunday morning at Chinmaya Sundaram, starting August 2025.

BV Session 2 — Sunday 11:30 AM–1:00 PM

Session 2 runs late morning at Chinmaya Sundaram. Use discount code SPRING2026 if registering for Spring semester only. Limited spots available — filled on a first-come, first-served basis with completed payment.

Bala Vihar Trial Class

New families who want to attend a trial class — please sign up below and experience a typical Sunday session at Chinmaya Mission Austin!

Shishu Vihar

Shishu Vihar is a parent-child class designed to introduce spirituality to children below 4 years. Come join in and sow the seeds of Indian traditions, morals and spirituality in a modern structure of play groups! Children will learn through action songs, rhymes, stories, and arts & crafts.
The group will meet at Chinmaya Sundaram from 11:15 AM to 12:00 Noon.

Please contact us at shishuvihar@chinmayaaustin.org if you have any questions regarding this program.

Hindi Language Registration

Registration for Hindi Language will be available in August at the start of the school year.

Look for the HINDI ADD ON option for pre-K through 12th grade during the Bala Vihar registration process.

Class Time – Sunday, 10:15 am – 11:15 am, Meet in-person at Sundaram

Please contact us at hindi@chinmayaaustin.org if you have any questions regarding this program.

Chinmaya Sundaram,
12825 Burnet Road
Austin, Texas 78727
ph.no. : (512) 888-9232
E-mail : info@chinmayaaustin.org