How Ganesha got his elephant head
A story about a mother, a promise, and the very first Ganesh Chaturthi. (Spoiler: everything turns out beautifully.)
4 min readRead
|| बालकाः देवस्वरूपाः ||
AEK Kids
Songs, stories and a whole lot of colour
AEK exists so our children grow up knowing they belong somewhere — with songs they know by heart, elders who know their names, and shlokas that keep them steady.
A place made for children first
Kids lead aartis. Kids perform on stage. Kids run wild in the hall while their parents sing bhajans. That's not tolerated — that's the point. Sanskara is not passed by lecture; it's passed by presence.
Every AEK gathering has a kids' corner, a kids' plate, a kids' role — and every uncle and aunty knows a kid's name before their parents' names.
What we do together
Six ways AEK Kids gather every year
Sunday Bhajan Circle
A gentle 45 minutes — one shloka, one story, one sweet. Aajis welcome as guest storytellers.
Festival Craft Sessions
Marigold garlands before Diwali, clay Ganesha before Chaturthi. Hands get muddy, memories get made.
Stage Performances
Every big AEK event has a kids' performance slot. No auditions — just enthusiasm.
Story Evenings
Panchatantra, Ramayan, Krishna Leela — told the old way, without screens.
Prasad Kitchen Time
Older kids help roll modaks and ladoos. First rule: taste-testing is mandatory.
Konkani Words Club
Ten Konkani words a session. By the end of the year, they can chat with aaji properly.
|| संस्कार ||
Values, gently passed on
Colouring & Craft
Print-at-home colouring pages
Free downloads for a rainy Sunday. Print, colour, hang on the fridge.
PDF files — committee to upload.
|| कथाश्रवणम् ||
Story-listening
Festival Stories
Big stories, told the small-person way
Short retellings of the stories behind our festivals — written for readers aged 5 to 12 (and any grown-up who's forgotten the details).
Little Krishna and the butter pot
The mischief prince of Vrindavan, his best friends, and a whole village of mothers who couldn't stay cross for long.
5 min readRead
Why we light diyas on Diwali
Rama comes home. The whole city lights a lamp. Fourteen years is a long time to wait — and worth every day.
3 min readRead
Shloka Cards
Three shlokas every AEK kid learns first
Sanskrit, transliteration, meaning — and when to say it. Learn one a week; you'll have them by month-end.
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ । निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥
Say it as
Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha, Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva Karyeshu Sarvada
What it means
O curved-trunk one, mighty as ten million suns — please make all my work free of obstacles.
When to say it — Before homework, before a school test, before anything new.
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः । गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥
Say it as
Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwaraha, Guruh Sakshat Parabrahma Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha
What it means
My teacher is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva all at once — the very truth. I bow to my teacher.
When to say it — Before a music class, a school day, or when you learn something new.
ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै ॥
Say it as
Om Saha Naavavatu, Saha Nau Bhunaktu, Saha Veeryam Karavaavahai
What it means
May we be protected together, nourished together, and work together with great energy.
When to say it — Before eating together — a lovely one at family dinners.
Festival Quiz
Four quick questions — how well do you know your festivals?
- 1. Which festival celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha?
- 2. How many days does Navaratri last?
- 3. What do we light on Diwali night?
- 4. What sweet is Bappa's absolute favourite?
|| सेवा परमो धर्मः ||
Service is the highest duty
Teens & Young Volunteers
Ready to help run AEK?
Teens are welcome on our Youth Team — help set up, run the kids' corner, film performances, or lead a shloka circle. It counts for community service hours too.