Jhalak–A reflection of Indian culture

ST LOUIS, MO — It took over 200 children and 125 volunteers to put together ‘Jhalak – A reflection of Indian Culture’ which was organized to celebrate 25 years of servant leadership at Bal Vihar of St. Louis.

 

The unique event was held at Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Missouri on April 1.

The event was attended by dignitaries from Federal and State governments, St. Louis Science Center, Interfaith Group, Media organizations and Indian community stalwarts among others.

A crowd of over 700 was addressed by United Stated District Judge, Honorable Henry Edward Autrey, Missouri State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal, Vedanta Society Minister Swami Chetananad to name a few.

Jhalak was a major production that took over 10,000 hours of collective efforts between children, their parents, volunteers and administrative staff. Jhalak featured a play based on the epic Ramayana. Dances were incorporated within the play, making it one big production collectively.

The event concluded with a sit-down dinner.

Center for Indian Cultural Education – a.k.a. Bal Vihar of St. Louis, a non-profit organization, since its inception in 1992 has been serving the Metro St. Louis Indian community. The primary focus of this organization is to provide Indian cultural education to students age 5-18, its application and integration with the global multicultural and multifaceted society.

What started off as a seed in 1992 has now blossomed into a very mature tree. The idea was planted by Dr. Sudhir Brahmbhatt in 1992 to help the Asian Indian community within greater St. Louis to inculcate Indian culture and heritage in next generation of leaders.

Bal Vihar has been serving greater St. Louis Indian community through its teaching of religious scriptures, India’s past and present, yoga and bhajan. The theme of the organization is that you serve and lead. Through various community projects, the citizens of tomorrow learn to help and serve that eventually help them become a better leader.