Chinmaya Mission Orlando
Join us at Chinmaya Mission Orlando for Amrit Yatra Week (Nov 16–22) as we honor Pujya Gurudev through a week of worship, devotion, and community celebrations. Explore the full schedule above to participate in events and sponsorship opportunities!
We invoke the blessings and Grace of Devi for our 3rd Annual Devi Retreat. We tune our minds to Her image, Her voice and Her love.
Join Devis from across North America for the 3rd Devi retreat, as we come together to seek the Highest through the inspiring lives of the Glorious Women Saints: based on the Woman Seeker Chinmaya Publication. Learn, Read, Reflect, Discuss the extraordinary lives and compositions of these Saints from all over Bhārat. Come, be inspired and transform! The theme we have this year is "Sacred Secrets", we will find the key and unlock the Devi within us !
- Immerse in enlightening discourses on the lives of inspiring women saints.
- Reflect on how to be the ultimate seeker.
- Engage in dynamic workshops.
- Revel in devotional chants and bhajans.
- Connect with the Devi in YOU!
Details:
Dates: February 12th through February 15th 2027 (Presidents Day Weekend).
Camp check-in time is on Friday February 12th from noon onwards (if you are arriving earlier, please let us know ahead of time and we will try our best to accommodate you).
Camp check-out time is on Monday February 15th from noon to 2 pm.
Eligibility: For all Devis Ages 18+
Conducted by: Brahmacharinis (Brni. Shubhani ji, Brni. Akalka ji, Brni. Sandhya ji, Brni. Aparna ji, Brni. Sahana ji, ), Spiritual Teachers (Medha ji and Shashi ji), and Sevikas of Chinmaya Mission.
VENUE:
Pinelake Retreat Center, Groveland, Florida (about one hour from the Orlando International Airport).
Address: 21725 CR-33, Groveland, FL 34736
Retreat Fees:
Includes accommodation, food, retreat activities participation and camp materials for 3 nights. CHYKs (18-28yrs) special discounted rate. Early Bird ends on Aug 4th 2026.
1. Chyk dorm style accommodation : 3–6 bunk beds per room (top & bottom bunks used); shared space with 6–12 Devis depending on the room, shared bathroom in the hallway, storage space available to keep personal items in the room — $295 (Early Bird) / $325 (After Aug 4)
Please note: All rooms are shared accommodations with shared bathrooms. Accessible rooms/lower beds will be prioritized for elders and those with special requirements.
Please indicate if you have any preferred roommate. Please note that requests are NOT guaranteed, but we will try our best to accommodate based on availability.
Registration is now closed for this event as we have reached capacity. Thank you.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR text/call Lakshmy Prakash at (C) 510-378-1264
We look forward to seeing you at our 3rd Annual Devi Retreat
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Explain the two types of accommodations available?
A.
b. Shared accommodation (private beds, rooms can have 2 or 3 beds and shared bathrooms in the hallway). See picture below.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR text/call Lakshmy Prakash at (C) 510-378-1264
Q. Can we see a glimpse of what was covered in the satsangs last year?
A. Please see here.
Every Weekday from 6:00 AM to 6:30 AM, we will take turns to chant select hymns and stotrams for 15 minutes and read Pujya Gurudev’s commentary of the Bhagavad Geeta.
To be one of the chanters or readers, review the upcoming stotrams and if the slot for a give day is not filled up, sign up for it by filling this simple form.
Returning Students
New Students
Click here to Register
CMO Membership (Families with no children in Bala Vihar)
CMO Membership
Frequently Asked Questions
Overview
As a time-honored tradition, Chinmaya Mission is once again gearing up to celebrate the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. This year's event will be based on Chapter 6: (ātma-saṁyama-yogaḥ) and will be conducted in April, 2027.
Registration
Registration is not open for this event yet!Event Details
Depending on the Balavihar class that the child is in, the recommended number of verses to be memorized is as follows. 
Resources
Chant Gita Resources
Download PDF
Chanting by Swami Brahmananda:
- Verse by verse breakdown
- Full chapter (Youtube)
Learn Gita Resources
Will be published shortly.
General Information and guidelines
-- Children should be in proper attire. Indian outfit is preferred.
-- Children are advised to do 'Namaskar' to the altar in general, to the judges and audience
-- Children should speak up loudly when asked to tell their names, age and how many verses they know
-- Children should show confidence, boldness, eagerness and enthusiasm
-- Geeta Chanting MP3 is available for download in the resources section below.
Please note that children are encouraged to take part in the competition even if they do not know the required number of verses for their age group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this really a competition and won't the children get stressed out by it?
A: It is important to emphasize that the only goal here is to introduce the children to the world of the Geeta. Therefore, anyone who participates is already a winner and we give medals to all the participants. At the same time, we also recognize the top performers in each age group. As long as the goal and spirit of the event are properly explained to the children, they will not be stressed by it.
Q: If the children don't know the meaning of the verses, is there any point in chanting?
A: Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda has composed a little couplet in Sanskrit that elegantly answers this question, See his quotation on the right. The English translation is - "From this recitation of the Bhagavad Geeta arises the desire to know its meaning, which in time matures into Knowledge that results in total f
ulfillment." As he explains, what is memorized today may spark a search for knowledge tomorrow or sometime in the future. When that happens, the knowledge will then stand them in good stead.
Q: Why should the verses be memorized?
A: Our scriptures and history have been passed down to us through an oral tradition that goes back thousands of years. Here we are continuing that tradition which is an important part of our heritage. Our ancestors had prodigious powers of memory and transmitting the knowledge verbally through the Guru-Shishya parampara allowed for a level of intimacy and proficiency that would not be possible through written materials. Similarly, chanting the Geeta verses by reading from a book will not provide long-term benefits because the contents will not register deeply. By memorizing the verses, we are planting seeds that will bear fruit at a later time.
Q: If parents don't know how to chant or don't know the meaning of the verses, how can they help their children?
A: This is a great opportunity for adults to learn chanting by listening to the audio available on this site. They can also read Swami Chinmayananda's book "The Holy Geeta" which provides the meaning and detailed commentary on each verse.
Q: Children are so busy with school work and other activities. When will they have time to learn this?
A: We are teaching chanting to all children during their regular philosophy classes. But this does need to be supplemented by some practice at home and even a few minutes each day will help in this regard. If even that cannot be arranged, then one option may be to play the audio in the car during commutes or other car rides. It is amazing how much children are able to pick up by listening and chanting along.
Q: Children are already forced to learn so many other things these days, so will this not be an undue burden for them?
A: Children are born with limitless potential. There are so many children in our center who have been participating in this event for years while continuing to excel in their academic endeavors and other extra curricular activities. We have had participants from under 3 years of age all the way up to high school students on the verge of graduating.
For more information...
Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have further questions or require any other information.
