On Saturday, the 25th of August we had scheduled our first Children's Day for our Kharkov Community. It had been my spontaneous idea during the children's course in order to move our children into the center of our community. The outing was not only for children and their parents, but anybody who wanted to interact and play with the kids was welcome to participate. And even some of our brahmacaris and young bhaktas joined the fun, eager to give pleasure to the kids....!
In material life and its culture the children are always seen as a burden - disturbing the enjoyment and fun of the grown-up's - and are thus pushed aside and neglected. This conditioning is very deeply rooted in our hearts, and hence we tend to also bring this attitude into our spiritual practice and communities. Therefore we were trying to set something against such tendency by introducing at least occasionally a kids' day, where their fun would be the center!
And it was a grandiose success! We ordered one big and two small buses, and around 90 seats were booked. I sponsored the buses to inspire everyone to take part. We went together to Eco Park - an animal park outside of Kharkov - looking at the various animals and remembering that we surely would not want to take our next birth in those species of life. We were feeding them with prasadam of apples and carrots, chanting Hare Krishna to them and further interacting with them and the kids. Around lunch we met at a designated place for a picnic - everyone had brought along some little prasadam which we shared around. Thereafter the men had wonderful games, competitions and sports with the boys of all ages. It was so funny - in fact hilarious! The grown-up men were carrying the kids on their backs and having running competitions. And the children, with big smiles over their whole faces, enjoyed riding on the backs of the grown-ups, some being the temple authorities and managers. Everyone had a great time - it was simply wonderful! Something I had envisioned: that the grown-ups would interact and play with our children. The children will remember this for the rest of their life.....!
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Sometimes we are too straight, thinking that anything else but lectures and kirtan is maya - even for the children. But no - children also need some fun-time. They are children after all! We grown-ups often tend to forget how to connect and play with children in a harmless way. And it can always be connected with Krishna, by remembering how the cowherd boys are playing.
In SB.10.11.39-40 we get some insights into their games:
"Sometimes Krishna and Balarama would play on Their flutes, sometimes They would throw ropes and stones devised for getting fruits from the trees, sometimes They would throw only stones, and sometimes, Their ankle bells tinkling, They would play football with fruits like bael and amalaki. Sometimes They would cover Themselves with blankets and imitate cows and bulls and fight with one another, roaring loudly, and sometimes They would imitate the voices of the animals. In this way They enjoyed sporting, exactly like two ordinary human children."
They teach us how we are meant to play with our children....
In SB.10.11.39-40 we get some insights into their games:
"Sometimes Krishna and Balarama would play on Their flutes, sometimes They would throw ropes and stones devised for getting fruits from the trees, sometimes They would throw only stones, and sometimes, Their ankle bells tinkling, They would play football with fruits like bael and amalaki. Sometimes They would cover Themselves with blankets and imitate cows and bulls and fight with one another, roaring loudly, and sometimes They would imitate the voices of the animals. In this way They enjoyed sporting, exactly like two ordinary human children."
They teach us how we are meant to play with our children....
Our girls were also playfully engaged, transforming three wooden blocks into Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra. Our elderly matajis took also part, fully enjoyed the outing. It truly felt like a big family, with the children being in the center! Devotees spontaneously suggested to have another one of such days in September.
One week later I was scheduled to give the SB class on the big Saturday morning program, and I dedicated the first 30 minutes to the children, involving them inter-actively. It was fun for me and also for the kids! We had 28 children of all ages who eagerly participated, sitting right in front of the Vyasasana - excited to be part of the Srimad Bhagavatam class and even chanting the Sanskrit verse. I asked them all kinds of questions, and they gave nice answers. I also pointed out in a humorous way, that the temple room is not a sports hall, where we run and jump around like crazy monkeys. We remembered the monkeys in Vrindavan, who are never allowed to enter the temples. I explained how the temple room is a sacred place, where Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Gaur Nitai are watching us. Upon my question what They would think about our undisciplined behavior, one little girl answered: "They will think we are not devotees!" It got the message across...!
I concluded the children's session by distributing sweets to all the kids from the Vyasasana, which they excitedly accepted. Surely this will leave sweet impressions of the Srimad Bhagavatam class.....!
I am hoping to establish this as a regular tradition, including the sweets distribution at the end. It was well received by the children and grown-ups, and the main speakers for those Saturday programs agreed to continue the tradition.
After this SB class for the children we would usually continue the regular class. However, since is was the 1st day of the new school year, our little school offered a celebration to our community involving all the children and teachers. Thus the entire program was a very successful attempt to move our children into the center of our community.
Your servant, Devaki dd
I concluded the children's session by distributing sweets to all the kids from the Vyasasana, which they excitedly accepted. Surely this will leave sweet impressions of the Srimad Bhagavatam class.....!
I am hoping to establish this as a regular tradition, including the sweets distribution at the end. It was well received by the children and grown-ups, and the main speakers for those Saturday programs agreed to continue the tradition.
After this SB class for the children we would usually continue the regular class. However, since is was the 1st day of the new school year, our little school offered a celebration to our community involving all the children and teachers. Thus the entire program was a very successful attempt to move our children into the center of our community.
Your servant, Devaki dd
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