How do you spell FUN? L-O-C-K-I-N at Saaket
So how did ‘this’ word come to mean ‘that’? Back in 2003, our Acharya Uddhavji, suggested a satsang with high school Balavihar students at Saaket to discuss spirituality represented in the movie Matrix. The kids came somewhat skeptically, but they had fun as they learnt to look for spirituality in uncommon places! Thus started a new Saaket tradition – lock-ins! The rest as they say is history. The Matrix has come and gone, but the lock-ins continue. The format has been expanded to accommodate younger students after news spread through the Balavihar grapevine.
In keeping with this tradition, we had three lock-ins this academic year for elementary, middle and high school grades. All the lock-ins were held on a Friday evening. The elementary and middle school events ended by 10 PM, but the high school students were given the special privilege of a sleepover (sleepover may a misnomer since no one got much sleep!) at Saaket. These lock-ins are a wonderful way for the kids to spend quality time with Swamiji and enjoy the camaraderie of their peers.
The elementary school lock-in was held on December 9 th 2005. There were about 120 kids at Saaket that night, ready to have fun and bond with each other and Swamiji. The children performed arati in the temple, had dinner and then watched the acclaimed new animated movie, Hanuman with Swamiji. This was followed by a quiz based on the movie and all the participants were awarded ribbons.
The middle school students got together on January 15 th 2006. After arati, dinner and satsang with Swamiji, they proceeded in a caravan of volunteer cars to Adventure Landing where they are got to ride race cars, play putt-putt golf and laser tag. The cold weather was no deterrent to the enjoyment of the 37 kids who were lucky enough to attend. This was our smallest group since only 3 grade levels are represented.
Then on February 10 th 2006, it was the turn of the trail-blazing high school students to replicate previous years of fun. Forty six of them took a break from their busy schedules to eat pizza, pray, bowl and play laser tag along with Swamiji at Main Event in Plano. This was followed by a sleepover at Saaket. Most were successful in their determination to stay awake all night so as not to miss a single moment of the adventure. Swamiji retired to his routine at 4:30 AM in the morning and the kids returned home by 7 AM Saturday – no doubt to catch up on some sleep!
All in all, the consensus among “lock-in”-ers is that Saaket is no longer just a place your parents drag you to on Sundays – it is the headquarters of FUN – the sattvik kind of course – just as intended by the ever-innovative, master-mind, Acharya Uddhavji! Thanks to ALL the sevaks & sevikas who WORKED tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the adventures proceeded smoothly and safely!
