August 26, 2008

Dear Devotees,

This message has five announcements from the Bharatiya Temple of Lansing.

1. Volunteers needed for temple clean-up this Thursday (prior to Township & State inspection)

The newly constructed areas of the Temple will be inspected this Friday by officials from Meridian Township and the State of Michigan. We need volunteers to do a clean-up of the Temple on Thursday evening. If you can help, please come to the Temple on Thursday, August 28, between 6 and 8 PM and ask Dr. Sudhakar Kulkarni for details on what needs to be done.

2. Reminder: Bhaja Govindam Retreat on August 29-30

There will be a spiritual retreat on Adi Sankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam conducted by Dr. C. Adinarayana Reddy on August 29-30 (evening session on the 29th from 7:30 and all day on the 30th from 9 AM). Details are posted at:
http://lansingtemple.org/misc/BhajaGovindamRetreat.pdf

There is no fee for the retreat but donations to the Temple from attendees would be appreciated.

3. Bhagvati Mata ki Chowki on Sunday August 31

On Sunday August 31, Bhagvati Mata ki Chowki will be conducted by well-known artists Piyoosha and Kailash Anuj. There will be puja from 5 to 5:30 PM, prasad from 5:30 to 6 PM, and devotional bhajans to Goddess Durga from 6 to 9 PM. The lead sponsors of this program are Smt. Navodita and Shri Surendra Bhardwaj Shastriji, celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary. Please come and help us make this event a success. To help in preparing prasad, and/or to sponsor the program, please call Sharmaji or Shastriji at 517-339-6337. Details are posted at:
http://lansingtemple.org/misc/mata_ki_chowki.pdf

4. Ganesh Festival, September 3-14

Ganesh Festival will be celebrated with traditional fervor from Wednesday September 3 to Sunday September 14. The detailed program is posted at:
http://lansingtemple.org/misc/ganesh_festival.pdf

The Festival will start with Ganesh Chaturthi celebration on the opening day (September 3) and will include a procession around the temple, puja and Atharvashirsa recitation, arati and prasad (dinner), and dance by Sudha Chandrashekhar and group. The final day's program will include bhajans and songs by Mrinalini Arkatkar and Sanjay Deshpande, accompanied by Hemant Babtiwale (tabla) and Anil Arkatkar (harmonium). 
Also, this year we will have a new event for children of all ages on Saturday September 6, see:
http://lansingtemple.org/misc/khel.pdf

5. BalVihar classes resume on September 14

BalVihar will resume on Sunday, September 14, for the 2008 - 2009 academic year.  Classes are held every Sunday from 10:30am to 11:30am. The curriculum is festival driven and learning occurs in an interactive, lively, environment where children eagerly share stories, play games, and participate in contests, while effortlessly connecting with their heritage. To enroll your child in BalVihar, simply print and complete the form available at http://lansingtemple.org/balvihar/enrollform.html and mail it to the temple or bring it with you to BalVihar  when you are ready to enroll. Parents are encouraged to observe/try out a couple of sessions with their child before enrolling. For further details or questions, please call Shashi Karve at (517)347-1892 or send email to shashikarve@yahoo.com.

Sincerely,

Bharatiya Temple of Lansing
955 Haslett Rd
Haslett, Michigan 48840.
Phone: (517) 339-6337