Jain Digest 2016 08

SR No.: 527140
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA
Publication Year: 2016
Total Pages: 44
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Jain Digest, & USA
File Size: 6 MB

Page 29

Digest
On the first day of convention, the board members were up early to get ready for everyone's arrival. We started the process by setting up for our first event, MELA (Meet Every Last Agent), and making sure all of the pieces were ready for people's arrival. As a board member looking over the growing crowd, it was honestly such a fulfilling moment to see friends who'd been separated since the last YJA convention, reuniting and embracing each other like family. Soon it was time usher the attendees into the ballroom for the Opening Ceremony, followed by Decades of Bollywood talent battle.
The show started with the Convention Hype Video. The excitement built up in the video was directly reflected by the people in the audience - you could literally feel the anticipation for the weekend to finally commence. And it finally did. With a round of applause, our four Co-chairs walked on stage and after a few words, lit the convention diyas to signal the official commencement of YJA 2016. As the opening ceremonies commenced, the convention committee was ready to start the dance battle as much as the audience was. So as soon as the last speech ended, we turned over to our lovely Emcees, Prachi and Paras. During this time the board members were either working on getting everyone to enjoy the show or preparing the amazing mixers that were planned for everyone to enjoy. After that, it was bed time for the attendees. For the board members however, the night had just begun. So began the teardown, cleanup, and preparation for the next day's events.
Our Daytime and JNF teams did an incredible job recruiting speakers for the convention's 129 sessions, which incorporated the theme, Agents of Change, along with several ties back to our Jain teachings and principles. Once daytime activities officially ended for the day, attendees were given the opportunity to relax, eat chutney sandwiches, and of course, get ready for Saturday night's main event: Straight Outta Gujarat. Everyone shuffled into the pre-function area, decked from head to toe in their very best garba attire, taking pictures with the specially made posters. In the middle of the ballroom stood the incredible centerpiece that a few of our board members actually put together by hand. On stage was the live garba band, which kept us entertained for hours. We danced till our feet could move no more, and the night ended with a fabulous bhel feast prepared by the board members ourselves - with the help of adult volunteers, of course. Finally, it was time to send the attendees off to bed so that they could be well rested for the final day.
Sunday morning comes and the board members are all gearing up for the last day. Throughout the night, we started setup for the JAB/JIA Competition and the daytime programming. The morning starts like any normal morning for us and we get a running start. Daytime programming goes through like a flash and we are waiting for JAB/JIA to start. All the board members are excited for this especially since JIA was a new program created this year. As the day goes on, the attendees go off to the rest of the sessions before the rec hour. During this time they had the opportunity to go upstairs, change, snack and relax before dinner and that night's event: Maharaja's Formal. As everyone came down for dinner people were getting excited for the formal. The doors to the formal opened and everyone, including the board members were shocked. The decorations were beautiful and the setup was amazing. The formal started off with a group YJA photo and then our DJ started the night off with some amazing music that continued on till lam at which point the all night sleepover started. This was the time when all of us got together and got to hang out and watch all of the attendees having fun and spending time together before everyone had to leave. As everyone got ready to go to bed, the board members stayed up and cleaned up to ensure that the next morning's ceremonies go according to plan.
Monday was a very emotional day for us. With the end of closing ceremonies, we had just finished the event that we had started planning.. Seven months ago!