Sal Mubarak - 2069

MESSAGE FROM THE GUJARATI SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY

THE STORY OF DIWALI

Once upon a time there was a great warrior, Prince Rama, who had a beautiful wife named Sita.There was also a terrible demon king, Ravana. He had twenty arms and ten heads, and was feared throughout the land. He wanted to make Sita his wife, and one day he kidnapped her and took her away in his chariot. Clever Sita left a trail of her jewellery for Rama to follow.Rama followed the trail of glittering jewellery until he met the monkey king, Hanuman, who became his friend and agreed to help find Sita. Messages were sent to all the monkeys in the world, and through them to all the bears, who set out to find Sita.After a very long search, Hanuman found Sita imprisoned on an island. Rama's army of monkeys and bears couldn't reach the island, so they began to build a bridge. Soon all the animals of the world, large and small, came to help. When the bridge was built, they rushed across it and fought a mighty battle.When Rama killed the evil Ravana with a magic arrow, the whole world rejoiced. Rama and Sita began their long journey back to their land, and everybody lit oil lamps to guide them on their way and welcome them back. Ever since, people light lamps at Diwali to remember that light triumphs over dark and good triumphs over evil.

Chairman's Message

Namaste to all.

This year began with, concerns being raised regarding the value of our Gujarati School. Initiatives were taken to improve this situation. The following has already been achieved:• The establishment of a School Governing Body (SBG) and a constitution to govern it.• Setting up a vision and mission statement, creating an identity for the school. • Providing a workbook whereby parents can monitor the progress of their child. • Improving the appearance of the school. • Setting up a communication system between the school and the parents.

All parents and community members are encouraged to convey their concerns and ideas regarding the school via the SGB members or e- mail BenoniGujaratiSchool@gmail.com. We also have a link on the Samaj's web page. (www.SBGHSS.org) The school is open to all, wanting to learn Gujarati regardless of age. Any parents that have any issues (transport ,finance, etc) with their child attending our school can discuss these matters with SGB. Let these matters not discourage your child from attending school. Besides receiving an education in Gujarati it is also a place for our children to interact.

I would like thank the Samaj , Guruji , Kantibhai Sukha, Ritaben Ranchod, Mitesh Kanjee and all SGB members and their spouses, for their time and effort they put in, to help save our school but most of all I thank Geetaben, Diptiben, Shielaben and Maduben for teaching our children. A special thanks to Hemaben Bhagvan and her team for conducting the Bal and Balika Mandal. Lastly we would like to thank the parents for supporting our Gujarati school.

Happy Diwali and Sal Mubarak - Kamal Bhagvan

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

GUJARATI SCHOOL - TERM CALENDAR - 2013

From the Sarasvati Vidya Mandir we wish one and all a Happy and Blessed Diwali and a prosperous New Year. We would like to thank the parents for supporting and making an effort to educate your child in the Gujarati language and culture. We hope and pray for your continuous support and effort. Remember that parents, child and teacher create the perfect team to achieve pupil development.Once again Happy Diwali and best wishes for New Year

From: Geetaben, Dipitiben , Shilaben & Maduben.

The admission for 2013 is now open.

TERM 1

TERM 2

TERM 3

TERM 4

11 JANUARY 2013 - 15 MARCH 2013

12 APRIL 2013 - 21 JUNE 2013

19 JULY 2013 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2013

4 OCTOBER 2013 - 29 NOVEMBER 2013

MESSAGE FROM THE BAL/BALIKA MANDAL

The tossing away of true values has left the world in a hapless pursuit of more of everything. Right in things but poor in spirit man is left floundering and without a life raft. His rescue lies in a return to the source of true values, meaning, to his traditions, scriptures, holy men and places of worship.

In a 1948 Armistice Day address, General Omar N.Bradley said, "We have too many men of science, too few men of God. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living. Humanity," he said, "is in danger of being trapped in this world by moral adolescence."

Where are values going?At one time values were handed down from generation to generation. Now these same values are disrespectfully pushed aside as not in vogue. Each one has his 'beliefs', decides what is right for him, and does his own thing.

The Bal/Balika Mandal brings an element of the East to the children of today's age. Moral and spiritual care is the two wings of the Mandal. Faith in God is strengthened through exciting stories, dramas, slide shows and presentations of our shastras like the Bhagvat Gita, Mahabharata & Ramayana. Every child is nurtured so that he or she grows up into “shining, proud Hindu's of tomorrow”.

The Bal/Balika Mandal is run on a weekly basis in order to enable development of life skills along with the teachings of our shastras. The Mandal also gives the kids an opportunity for cultural performances and talent development this increases their confidence to perform in front of audiences as well as improves their understanding of the shastras. This will allow for those difficult questions that are posed at school to be answered with confidence and maturity.

In this Western age, we seem to be losing our culture and in turn losing our basic morals and values. Thus it is essential that all parents make an effort to encourage their children to become aware of their Hindu religion and cultural heritage.

So we encourage all Hindu parents to keep the torch of Hinduism burning so we can preserve such a valuable gift given to us by GOD himself.

“VidyanamAdhyatma –vidya”

“Of all forms of knowledge, spiritual knowledge

is the highest”

DIWALI WORDSEARCH - How Fast Can You Do This??

Dancer - Colour Me in your favorite colours

LORD RAMA - Colour Me in your favorite colours

Om

U (phonetically as in "put") and M (phonetically as in "mum"). The sound emerging from the vocal chords starts from the base of the throat as "A". With the coming together of the lips, "U" isformed and when the lips are closed, all sounds end in"M".The three letters symbolize the three states (waking, dream and deep sleep), the three deities (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), the three Vedas (Rig,Yajur and Sama) the three worlds (Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah) etc. The Lord is all these and beyond.

The symbol of AUM consists of three curves (curves 1, 2, and 3), one semicircle (curve 4), and a dot. The large lower curve 1 symbolizes the Waking state (jagrat), in this state the consciousness is turned outwards through the gates of the senses. The larger size signifies that this is the most common ('majority') state of the human consciousness.The upper curve 2 denotes the state of Deep Sleep (sushupti) or the unconscious state. This is a state where the sleeper desires nothing nor beholds any dream.The middle curve 3 (which lies between Deep Sleep and the Waking state) signifies the Dream state (swapna). In this state the consciousness of the individual is turned inwards, and the dreaming self beholds an enthralling view of the world behind the lids of the eyes.

The Dot signifies the fourth state of consciousness, known in Sanskrit as turiya. In this state the consciousness looks neither outwards nor inwards, nor the two together.Finally, the Semi circle symbolizes Maya and separates the Dot from the other three curves. Thus it is the illusion of Maya that prevents us from the realization of this highest state of bliss.

Om is the universal name of the Lord. It is made up of the letters A (phonetically as in "around"),

SUMMARY OF SYMBOLS - Part One

TrishulThe Trishul symbolizes the balance of the three forces of Preservation, Creation and Destruction.There are also two other interpretations of the Trishul symbol. One is that it represents the three aspects of consciousness – cognition, conation and affection.Another is that it represents the three Gunas or Praktriti – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.The Trishul also symbolizes that in order to become a spiritually realized soul you can either follow the path of Karma Yoga, or Bhakti Yoga or Gyana Yoga.

LampThe oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals. Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray: I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life.

DhajaThe dhaja suggests the victory of good over evil. The dhaja is a symbol of victory and superior wealth. It signifies commanding respect, patriotism and kingship. The kings of old in order to exhibit their Lordship over their kingdom and proclaim their continuing ruler-ship would hoist above their battlements or Palace.The devotee visits the Temple to gain victory over his baser instincts; passion, anger, greed, jealousy, etc. Where there is God, there is victory. Evil thoughts cannot overcome him in the Temple where he is in the embracing protection of the Lord. The Temple visit invigorates the devotee, recharging him with strength and bravery to face the hardships of daily life knowing fullwell that in the ultimate those who have surrendered to the will of God find victory.

·School times are from 3:00pm to 5:30pm on Fridays·There are optional Dharma Classes on Saturday from 4:00pm to 5:00pm

Please Return the form to the Gujarati School or e-mail it to: Benoni School@gmail.comGujarati