On May 22nd 2016, Chinmaya Mission Pittsburgh (CMP) had their annual Balavihar Students’ Day celebrations. Vivekji, of CMP, graced this event with his presence. Ever since its inception in 2008, the CMP Balavihar community has grown significantly under the able guidance of Vivekji. There are now three centers in three different areas of Pittsburgh with forty-five teachers and about six hundred families in all.
The day started with the opening prayers followed by the screening of the Student’s Day movie: Mahabharata! Each class from all three centers, with kids ranging from preschoolers to students in high school, were cast in short plays depicting various episodes from the Mahabharata which were filmed several weeks ahead of the Students’ Day. The Balavihar teachers wrote the script, directed, and filmed the plays. The movie was recorded using green-screen technology. Using a computer software, the volunteers worked on the movie by adding special effects such as inserting a background to the videos, adding voice enhancements and appropriate music, and combined all of the recorded episodes, creating a three-hour long movie! Each and every play in the movie had an invaluable lesson to take away.
The graduating high school seniors were recognized during the event. The Youth-Seva related awards were given to students who volunteered their time during the school year for a higher purpose. This event paved the way for the entire Balavihar community to come together, connect with one another, and celebrate the power of Guru-Shishya Parampara on this memorable day!