Theme: Shastras
Around 90 balaks and balikas, together with 25 bal and balika karyakars, from Southern African BAPS centers in Mayfair, Lenasia, Pretoria, Durban, Tzaneen, Benoni participated in the Regional Bal-Balika Shibir held at the Willow Park Resort and Conference Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa from 20 to 22 January 2012. Based on the theme ‘Shastras’, the three-day shibir consisted of theme-specific interactive workshops, classroom sessions, related lecture sessions, skits, audio-visual shows, activities and team building exercises which enabled the children to learn about Hinduism’s scriptural treasures in an enjoyable way.
The three major topics covered were:
• Hindu Shastras (Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharat, Ramayan)
• Swaminarayan Shatras (Vachanamrut, Shikshapatri, Swamini Vato)
• Sant: The Living Shastra
Through the shibir the balaks and balikas were able to grasp the key concepts of Hinduism’s main shastras and how they are exemplified in the life of the Living Shastra – Guruhari Pramukh Swami Maharaj.