BALA MITRA FOR THE BALA, BY THE BALA
North Houston Vibhag - Bala - Monthly Newsletter July-Aug 2026
Karyakarta Message Kiran ji - Sevika Pramukh Vayu Shakha In this Issue Karyakarta Message My favorite Sports Sports Artwork Best vacation place I visited Best vacation place artwork Bhagwat Gita shloka I loved the most Mahabharat crossword Getting ready for school year
Birthdays Houston Mahanagar Shakha Details
Namaste Balas! I hope you are doing great and enjoying your holidays! Every act of kindness, respect, responsibility, and service makes a positive difference. June and July are vacation months, and with no school, it's a wonderful opportunity to learn something new beyond our regular studies. June 21 is celebrated as International Yoga Day. How wonderful it is to learn yoga along with the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita through the Yogita program! The Bhagavad Gita teaches us important values such as kindness, love, respect, honesty, selfdiscipline, and forgiveness. Summer is a bright and joyful season when we enjoy spending time outdoors and connecting with nature. Learning the Gita during this time helps us observe the world around us with a positive outlook, build good habits, and develop confidence in ourselves. The best part is that these teachings can help us throughout the year. When school gets busy, the Gita teaches us to stay calm and focused. When we face challenges, it encourages us to be courageous and do our best. When we interact with friends and family, it reminds us to be caring, respectful, and helpful. These lessons guide us in making good choices and becoming responsible individuals who contribute positively to the community. Just as the Bhagavad Gita teaches us to perform our duties with dedication and without fear, your regular presence at shakha shows your commitment and sincerity. By coming consistently, you are practicing discipline, building strength, and learning to give your best without expecting anything in return. This spirit of Nishkama Karma—doing your duty with a pure heart—is what makes you truly special. We look forward to learning, growing, and having fun together while gaining values that will guide us throughout the year and beyond.
MY FAVORITE SPORT
ABHIMANYU SHAKHA KATY
AARUSH
Namaste, My name is Aarush, and my favorite sport is basketball. I like to play basketball because it makes me happy when I play basketball. In the National Basketball Association (NBA), my favorite basketball team is Houston Rockets. I am a big fan of Amen Thompson and Stephen Curry. You can find a lot of options to play basketball anytime. It could be in your school playground, at your home hoop, or in your neighborhood parks and play areas. You can find basketball playing options anywhere, even on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean. It is fun to play basketball with your friends and siblings, but you can also enjoy playing basketball solo and keep yourself active. It is not very hard to understand how to play basketball. All you need is a hoop and a basketball. All you do is try to throw the ball into the hoop to get points to win the game. I play in basketball leagues, so I know that it can be played in a 1v1 format (2 players), 3v3 Format (6 Players), or a 5v5 Format (10 Players). In a game, there are 4 quarters. Each quarter’s average time would be ten to twelve minutes, which is a total of 2 hours with all the breaks, fouls, and timeouts. After the first two quarters are complete, there is a half-time break. After the break, the game continues to complete the 3rd and 4th quarters. An interesting fact about basketball is that it was first invented in 1891, and it was initially played with a soccer ball. Playing basketball is fun and I hope you will also enjoy playing and watching basketball.
MY FAVORITE SPORT ARTWORK
ABHIMANYU SHAKHA KATY
ANVAY
BEST VACATION PLACE I VISITED
SOORAJ SHAKHA KATY MANOGNYA
My favorite vacation was our trip to Glacier National Park because it was the most exciting and beautiful place I have ever visited. During the trip, I got to explore the amazing mountains, enjoy the fresh air, and see many wonderful sights. One of my favorite places in the park was Lake McDonald. The water was extremely cold, and when I first stepped in, I was freezing. After a little while, I got used to the cold, and my dad encouraged me to put my whole body into the lake. Even though it was one of the coldest lakes I have ever been in, it was a fun and unforgettable experience. I also collected some pretty rocks from the lake, and they looked even more beautiful when they were wet. While I was at the lake, I saw a very big rock in the water that looked so beautiful that I wanted to take a picture of it to remember the moment. Another exciting part of the trip was earning a Junior Ranger badge, which made me feel proud. I also saw a grizzly bear on the road, and it was amazing to see such a large wild animal up close. I enjoyed balancing on a fallen tree near the lake and taking in the beautiful scenery all around me. This vacation was full of adventure, fun, and unforgettable memories, which is why it was the best trip of my life.
BEST VACATION PLACE ARTWORK
SOORAJ SHAKHA KATY AGASTYA
BHAGWAT GITA SHLOKA I LOVED THE MOST ADI Chapter 12 Shlok 1 -Bhakti yoga of Devotion SHANKARA Arjuna ask Krishna whether it is better to worship God in a CHARYA Personal form (Saguna) or meditate on the formless, un manifest absolute (Nirguna). Krishna acknowledges that both SHAKHA paths lead to him, but he says that the path of personal WOODLANDS HARIN
AARYA
devotion is much easier and safer for an ordinary human being. So what I understood and like the most here is choosing a form like Shivji or Lakshmi, Ji or Ganesh, Ji and worship them daily and one can easily reach the God. We has Hindus worship in this way.
MAHABHARAT CROSSWORD
KAILASH SHAKHA KATY
YUKTA
GETTING READY FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR
SHIVSHAKTI SHAKHA BROOKSHIRE
REYANSH
Namaste friends, I am Reyansh and getting ready for a new school year is an exciting time. As a seventh grader, I am looking forward to meeting my teachers, seeing my friends, and learning new things. A new school year is also a chance to set goals and make positive changes as we have many new things to explore. Before school starts, I need to organize my school supplies, including notebooks, pencils, folders, and a backpack. I will also make sure that my clothes and shoes fit properly and that I have everything I need for school. It is important to organize my study area so I can complete my homework without distractions. I also want to prepare myself mentally for the new school year. Seventh grade may bring more challenging subjects and more responsibilities. I plan to manage my time wisely, complete my assignments on time, and ask my teachers for help whenever I need it. I will also try to stay organized by keeping track of my homework and important dates. Most importantly, I want to start the school year with a positive attitude. I hope to make new friends, participate in activities, and do my best in every subject. I know that there may be challenges, but I will learn from my mistakes and keep trying. I am excited to begin seventh grade and see what the new school year has in store for me. With good preparation, hard work, and a positive attitude, I hope to make this school year successful and memorable.
AVANI (SHIVSHAKTI SHAKHA) 07/06
SHLOK (ABHIMANYU SHAKHA) 08/25 SUDEEKSHA (ABHIMANYU SHAKHA)
07/13 REYANSH (SHIVSHAKTI SHAKHA) 07/07 OMKAR (SHIVSHAKTI SHAKHA) 07/20 OJASVI (ADI SHANKARACHARYA SHAKHA) 08/02
JASHRITHA (ABHIMANYU SHAKHA) 07/30 JANMA DINAMIDAM AYI PRIYA SAKHE SANTANOTU TE SARVADÄ MUDAM PRÄRTHAYÄMAHE BHAVA SATÄYUSI ISVARAH SADÄ TVÄM CA RAKSATU || PUNYA KARMANÄ KIRTI MARJAYA JIVANAM TAVA BHAVATU SÄRTHAKAM ||
AGASTYA (SOORAJ SHAKHA) 07/07 GIRVAAN (ADI SHANKARACHARYA SHAKHA) 07/15
RITWIK (KAILASH SHAKHA) 07/12 NAIRA (ADI SHANKARACHARYA SHAKHA) 07/07 AARYA (SHIVSHAKTI SHAKHA) 07/15 SONAKSHI (SHIVSHAKTI SHAKHA) 08/11
Abhimanyu Shakha
Kailash Shakha
Sunday, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Sunday, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
4802 FM 1463, Katy,
Vortexic Martial Arts Katy
TX 77494
3760 Mason Rd, Katy, TX 77450
#832-983-6258
#832-526-8719
Ahilya Shakha
Madhav Shakha
Sunday, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Sunday, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Fort bend academy of Dance, 18551 old Richmond Road, Richmond #713-355-7450
1210 Museum Square Dr Sugar Land, TX 77479 #334-332-5706
Adishankaracharya Shakha
Meenakshi Shakha
Sunday, 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Sunday, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
In-Step Dance Center
2525 County Road 90,
449 Sawdust Rd,
Pearland, TX 77584.
Woodland, Tx 77380
#312-493-5933
#901-338-6810
Sooraj Shakha Sunday, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM 6845 Peek Rd suite 280, Katy, TX 77449 #832-462-0452, #773-357‐7494 Tanaji Shakha Sunday, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 1210 Museum Square Dr Sugar Land, TX 77479 #201-675-4457 Vayu Shakha Sunday, 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM 16522 House & Hahl Rd, Cypress, TX. #682-365-6046, 281-974-0706
Narendra (NHV Kishore Shakha) #832-382-7960
Bhavani Shakha Sunday, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM 12002 Shadow Creek Pkwy Suite 114, Pearland, TX 77584.
Houston, TX 77082
Chanakya (Senior "praud" Shakha) 4018 Westhollow Pkwy Houston, TX 77082 #281-451-2021 Dhruv (SHV Kishore Shakha) Saturday, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM #832-451-7206
Friday, 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM 4018 Westhollow Pkwy
#720-206-5178
Saturday, 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Shaurya Shakha
#832-607-3615 ShivShakti Shakha Sunday, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM WUTA Tae Kwon Do 2340 Texas Heritage Parkway Brookshire, TX, 77423 #346-463-8951
PROMOTE DHARMA, FOSTER PEACE
Bacha bacha Ram ka..., Janmabhumi ke kam ka