Jain Digest 2000 02 Vol 16 No 02

SR No.: 527078
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Jain Digest, & USA
File Size: 9 MB

Page 11

REGIONAL NEWS (continued)
DALLAS, TX
Mahavir Jayanti was celebrated on April 16,
2000 at the Jain Center in Richardson, TX. Program began with Snatra Pooja. After Bhavna, Pathshala children presented their program. Young group sang Jain songs including Namokar Mantra. The second group presented 'Jain-pardy' game, which was very informational even for adults. The third group presented a 'Birthday party' given to Mahavir by his contemporaries such as his parents, Indra, Gautam Swami, Chandanbala,the shepherd, ChandKaushik, etc. highlighting their connection with Mahavir. It was well received by adults and guests from the Swami Narayan Sanstha.
About 17 members of the Jain Youth Group (of JSNT) participated in a Jain Picnic sponsored by the Houston Jain Fellowship (youth) Group at the Martin Creek Lake Park in East Texas during the Easter weekend. Besides having fun, they also expanded Tulsa, OK their Jainism know-how through Jain games and group discussion. As usual the JSNT is contributing a substantial amount for each participating youth at upcoming YJA convention at Los Angeles. Weekly programs at the Jain Society of North Texas include two Swadhyay sessions alternate Poojas, Pathshala classes, etc. Suresh Jain and Kirit Daftary lead discussions during the monthly general meeting. JSNT contact is our president Kirit Daftary (a Waco, TX resident) at 254/776-4209. netrat@att.net. Web page for the JSNT is www.dfwjains.org.
Phoenix, AZ
Mahavir Jayanti was celebrated on April 16, 2000 from 2:30pm to 7pm at Griffith Elementary school. The program was a great success. It consisted of variety of items, such as Stavans by Pathshala students, songs by Jain Band, two Garbas: one by young girls
and the other by adult ladies, importance of Mahavir Jayanti by Gamanbhai Shah, three wonderful dramas, aarti and mangal divo. It was followed by a very pleasant din
ner.
The dramas: 'Munchkins' by the youngest Pathshala group was organized by talented Mital Gosalia, 'Chandanbala' by Pathshala middle group organized by versatile Varsha Shah, and 'Jainism in the 21st century' by young and adults Pathshala group organized by local Jain scholar Dr. Kirit Gosalia. A very talented and helpful Ushma Bavishi handled stage decorations and settings for the dramas. All the participants and the event organizers deserve a pat on their backs. The Jain Center appreciates all the help and hard work put forth by the coordinators and thanks everyone for attending. The atten
dance was the highest we ever had. Contact Los Angeles, CA for JCGP is Bhakti Gosalia at (623) 5612148, email: jain phoenix@hotmail.com.
Our new board of trustees for Tulsa Jain Sangh has been working hard for our dream of 5650 Sq. Ft building consisting of Derasar, Pathshala rooms and an assembly hall. We received our building permit in February and have had our Bhoomi Poojan, which was done on Mahavir Jayanti day April 16, 2000. We had a gathering of 150 people from Tulsa and Oklahoma City and we raised over $30,000 during this event. We also have received $125,000 (no-interest) bridge loan towards our budgeted $500,000 amount for the entire project.. Our goal is to have the building ready and have PRATISTHA between 15th of July and 15th of August in 2001. We also had a Varshi Tap Parna for our trustee and committee member Reena Sheth. Congratulations to Reenaben are well deserved for the Tap inspite of many responsibilities she has.
As
a community project, the Sangh has started a program to feed the homeless once a month on a trial basis. Varsha Shah,
Reshma Shah and Reena Sheth sponsored the April feeding on the 20th. Their hard work made it possible to feed around 150 homeless people the American Jain food consisting of vegetables, rice, bread and at dessert. Thanks for their kindness. Among the dignitaries this summer we will have Sunandaben Vohora in July and
Samanji in August. For any information about our Derasar, Sangh or the dignitaries, please contact TJS president Mukesh J. Shah at (918) 299-2873 or E-mail at: mukesh@galaxy-1.com
WEST
Chandrakant Parekh, Regional Editor
Professor Padmanabh Jaini, a well known Jain scholar from Berkeley, was the guest speaker at the Mahavir Janam Kalyanak celebration on April 16. The event also included a children's program, recognition of the outgoing committee members, and introduction of the new committee members. The Annual Medical Camp, jointly sponsored with the Los Angeles Jain Social Group, organized on April 30 had two unique aspects to it this year. First, following an advertisement placed in the local newspaper inviting residents of the City of Buena Park to take advantage of this free event, several local families showed up to consult with over 40 physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and other health specialists. Second, the Mayor, an ex-Mayor and all the Council Members of the City of Buena Park attended the event for the first time and
each one of them was presented with a plaque and a decorated coconut. While addressing the attendees, the Mayor and each of the Council Member expressed an
amazement at the extent of the involvement of the Jain Community in outreach programs at the local, national and international levels. Having given their unanimous
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