Jain Digest 1992 07 Vol 19 No 03

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 23

Jain Digest
Mahavir Jayanti Celebrations •The Jain Center of Cincinnati-Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, held their celebration program on May 3, 1992 at Ankur Hall in Cincinnati. An informative talk was given by Mr. Jayantibhai Shah from Piqua, Ohio. The program included bhajans and committee elections.
The Hindu Temple Society of North America, Monroeville, PA, celebrated Mahavir Jayanti on April 12, 1992. The program consisted of Snatra Puja, a cultural program of bhajans, skits and talks by children, youth and adults.
•April 18, 1992 marked the Mahavir Jayanti celebration by the Jain Center of Northern California, San Jose, CA.. A lecture by Bhadraben Shah was presented along with puja, stavans and songs.
The Jain Community in Buffalo, Williamsville, NY, celebrated Lord Mahavir's birthday on April 26, 1992 at the Hindu Cultural Center. Shree Arhant Jain of Oakville, Ontario, Canada conducted the puja.
A local Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, newspaper reported the Jain Hindu Cultural Centre's Mahavir Jayanti celebration this year. Over two-hundred people attended the celebration
•The Jain Society of North Texas, Richardson, TX, held its Mahavir Jayanti on April 19, 1992. The event was sponsored by Vijay and Rashmi Jain from Singapore.
• April 12, 1992 marked the Mahavir Jayanti celebration of the Jain Society of the Capital District, Albany, NY. Program included Sangh Swami Vatsalya, youth debates and speeches.
Michael Tobias, Ph.D, a former professor of ecology and the humanities at Dartmouth College was the speaker for the Jain Center of Southern California, Buena Park, CA, at this year's Mahavir Jayanti celebration. Tobias, who has written fifteen books and produced over 60 movies for television, is best known int he Jain community for the PBS film "AHIMSA: Non-Violence." His book, Deep Ecology, started a new ethicalenvironmental movement in the U.S. and his ten hour movie series, "Voice of the Planet," was filmed at six-hundred locations on every continent. Dr. Tobias is a strict vegetarian and a disciple of Jainism. He is currently developing a dramatic film on the life of Lord Mahavir.
The Boston Jain Center celebrated Mahavira Jayanti on April 19, 1992. The guest speaker was Dr. John Cort, lecturer in the studies of religion at Harvard University, Dr. Cort teaches and does research in Jain Tradition.
• The Jain Center of America, Elmhurst, NY, celebrated Lord Mahavir's birthday on May 3, 1992. Snatra puja, a cultural program and Swamivatsalya-dinner was held at the temple.
Jain Society of Houston, Houston, TX, held its Mahavir Jayanti program on April 19, 1992. Elections for the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees were also held.
•April 19, 1992 also marked the Mahavira Jayanti celebration for the Jain Society of Greater Cleveland, . A pot luck dinner was served and children were encouraged to make pictures and paintings of Jainism related subjects for display.
The Tain Center of Greater St. Louis held its Mahavir Jayanti celebration on April 26, 1992 under the spiritual guidance of Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanu.
•Tulsa Jain Sangh, Tulsa, Oklahoma, visited and joined North Texas Jain Sangh to celebrate Mahavir Jayanti on April 19, 1992.
•On April 19, 1992, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, British Columbia, and Jains of Vancouver celebrated the birth of Lord Mahavir. Guest speakers consisted of Dr. S.N. Banerjee and Mr. Gyan Nath Aggarwal. Master of ceremonies was Mr. Anand Jain. Two young people, Mr. Amit Arya and Miss Tejal Shah, gave impressive discourses.
1. The Jain Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA celebrated Mahavir Jayanti on April 19, 1992 with Navkar Mantra Jap, Aarti and Mangal Divo, and other Stavans. Mr. Narendra Sheth presented a slide presentation with detail commentary on the life of Bhagwan Mahavir, from his pre-birth to Nirvana. The presentation was excellent and educational. There were many interesting questions raised by children as well as adults. It brought many principles of Jainism to their attention and reality. Children were given pictures of Bhagwan Mahavir for coloring and to bring back to the next month's meeting. Dr. Anudeep Jain from Cincinnati, OH, was an invited guest. Mrs. Kokila Doshi lead the group in singing a few Stutis on Bhagwan Mahavir. The program ended with an excellent potluck dinner prepared by all the ladies.
•The use of the harmonium, electronic keyboard and tabla by some of the members of the Jain Society of Rochester, Rochester, New York, made for a pleasant celebration of Mahavir Jayanti. A musical recital played by young girls was designed to explain, in English, the meaning of water, sandalwood, rice, flower, fruits, etc. used in Jain rituals. Ushaben Sheth and Ila Vora were instrumental in organizing and directing.
About 200 people attended Mahavir Jayanti at the Jain Study Center of North Carolina, Garner, North Carolina on April 19, 1992. The Snatra Pooja was organized by Ramesh Fofaria. A cultural program followed which consisted of a prayer followed by a welcome dance and a solo song. The last item was a drama - "Shalibhadra."
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