Mysuru: The second batch of 110 NRI children from USA, aged between 8 and 16, chanted 700 shlokas of Bhagavad Gita that they have memorised following the instructions of Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji.

The mass recital event was held this morning in the presence of Sri Swamiji from 9 am onwards for four hours continuously at Nada Mantapa of Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashrama premises in Datta Nagar on Ooty Road here.

Inspired by the first batch of 52 children, who had memorised and chanted the shlokas on December 25, 2016, the second batch chanted the shlokas today.

Dressed in green and white attire, the students assembled at Nada Mantapa at 8.15 am and began their systematic recital after the programme was inaugurated by the Sri Swamiji. Junior Pontiff Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji was present.

The children have come from 15 cities of America — Texas, Illinois, Oklahoma, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, New Jersey, California, Minnesota, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts and North Carolina. One child had come from Canada and two children came from Trinidad.

In August 2015, Sri Swamiji visited Dallas, USA, for the inauguration of a Hanuman Temple. During this visit, he inspired the children of NRIs to learn Bhagavad Gita shlokas in full and nearly 80 children memorised all the 700 shlokas. They successfully rendered the chanting during the Swamiji’s next visit to the US in July 2016. Among them, 52 children had come to Mysuru and chanted the shlokas on December 25, 2016.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, 11-year-old Chidatma Datta, a Mysurean settled in Dallas, USA, said that he has been memorising the shlokas since the last one-and-a-half years and has gained proficiency. He said that the feat has sharpened his memory and has helped him focus more on academics.

Eleven-year-old Jayanthi Cheru, a girl from Andhra Pradesh settled in Dallas, said that she was inspired by her brother and sister who have also memorised the shlokas. She said that her father was a trustee of the Dallas Hanuman Temple that was inaugurated by Sri Ganapathy Seer in 2015.

Seventeen- year-old Vandana Chundu from New Jersey said that memorising and chanting of Gita shlokas have brought in a sense of discipline in her. This will also help in her future career. Her father is a President of a Yoga organisation in New Jersey.

The parents of children had accompanied them from USA.  Interestingly, 60 of these parents have also learnt the 700 Bhagavad Gita shlokas and participated in today’s programme and chanted in unison. Separate seating arrangements were made to the parents.

Most of the general public who attended the programme came with Bhagavad Gita books and they also followed the children in chanting.