What is Bala Vihar?

What is Bala Vihar?

Bala Vihar is children’s spiritual and cultural educational program of Chinmaya Mission offered to children ages two through high school. Chinmaya Mission New York offers Bala Vihar classes at multiple locations in Manhattan, Long Island and Westchester. At Bala Vihar, children engage with the rich cultural heritage of India and its core values through stories, arts, crafts, classroom discussions and seva projects. Children also learn popular bhajans and shlokas and immerse in festive traditions at community celebrations.

Chinmaya Mission centers have become models for imparting India’s ancient spiritual heritage and the fundamentals of Vedanta to the next generation. Chinmaya Bala Vihar classes are organized into various grade levels from pre-K to Grade 12, aligning teaching resources and techniques with cognitive and emotional development of students. In promoting and teaching the universal philosophy of Oneness (Advaita Vedanta), children are made to understand that although Hinduism may appear to have many Gods, the Truth (God) is the one ultimate Reality, and thus it is one God manifesting in many forms.

What is the Bala Vihar Curriculum?

The curriculum for Bala Vihar has been developed by the Chinmaya Mission and is taught in all our worldwide Bala Vihar locations. Chinmaya Bala Vihar curriculum includes various devotional, philosophical and ethical texts and topics, focusing in the early years on developing love for God, in the elementary years on learning and practicing value based living, and in the teenage years on understanding spirituality and fundamental Vedantic principles. The curriculum covers topics and texts from the Vedas, Puranas and Itihasas, taught in age-appropriate pedagogy.

Children between the ages of 2 – 5 years attend Chinmaya Shishu Vihar which is a parent and me class. They have an extensive curriculum which explores one deity each month. Children learn through story-telling, arts and crafts, yoga and many more fun activities!

The Chinmaya Bala Vihar curriculum covers Grades KG-12. Specific courses offered at each center may vary based on number of students enrolled. Students in grades 9-10 are also called “Junior CHYK.” Students in grades 11-12 are also called “CHYK.” Chinmaya Yuva Kendra – CHYK covers ages 17-30 years.

Cultivating Spiritual Wisdom

All About Bala Vihar – Chinmaya Mission New York

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MANHATTAN UPTOWN

Manhattan Uptown Bala Vihar on Saturdays

New families who wish to learn more about the program and apply for academic year 2025-26, please send an email to cmbvuptown@chinmayanewyork.org with your name and contact phone number. Please also include the name(s), age(s) and grade in September 2025 for your child(ren).

MANHATTAN DOWNTOWN

Manhattan Downtown Bala Vihar on Saturdays

Downtown Bala Vihar is currently accepting rolling registrations for the 2025-26 academic year. New families who wish to learn more about the program and apply for academic year 2025-26 please send an email with your name and contact phone number. Please also include the name(s), age(s) and grade in September 2025 for your child(ren). Reach us at cmbvdowntown@chinmayanewyork.org or fill out the inquiry form and one of our volunteers will contact you.

QUEENS-LONG ISLAND

New families who wish to learn more about the program and apply for academic year 2025-26, please send an email with your name and contact phone number. Please also include the name(s), age(s) and grade in September 2025 for your child(ren). Reach us at qlibalavihar@chinmayanewyork.org

WESTCHESTER BALAVIHAR

Use code HERITAGE to avail $50 off registration until 20 August 2025.

New families who wish to learn more about the program and register please send an email with your name and contact phone number. Please also include the name(s), age(s) and grade for your child(ren). Reach us at westchesterbv@chinmayanewyork.org

C/o Kanwal Kapur, CPA

25 Winthrop Drive

Woodbury, NY 11797

Email : info@chinmayanewyork.org