Jain Digest 1997 11

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

Page 9

REGIONAL NEWS
Canada Mahendra Mehta, Regional Editor
of their personalities. The atmosphere was livened up by a game for each to take up the microphone and give a presentation on any subject.
We reached Boston at 10pm and were mer by the welcoming party at the steps of the Jain Centre. After a short puja, we were assigned to private homes and experienced warm and friendly welcome from Boston Jains. Next morning, there was a busy pro- gram of puja, stavan singing from a talented New York group, speeches, exchange of
Toronto, Ontario
The Jains of Toronto celebrated the Paryushan Parva or 8 days atonement, fast- ing and seeking each other's forgiveness with last day of fasting on Saturday 6th of September. The Jain Centre was packed to capacity with over 600 people witnessing the celebration and formal honouring of 12 adults and youths who had fasted between 6 to 9 days. When young Sangeeta Mehta(24) and Akash Kothari (23) and Sunil Kothari (17) were asked how they managed to fast for 8 days, they replied the first day was tough but after that it was relatively easy. Bruce Costain who has earned a Ph.D. in Jain Studies from U of T said he has fasted for 8 days before and it was not difficult for him to do it again. On Sunday September 8th morning, all the 'Tapasvis' were again honored with variety of foods prepared by the families of Tapasvis and other Jain ladies. After thanksgiving prayers and blessings from visiting Samnijis or Jain nuns, the guests were entertained to a sumptuous breakfast.
DADAWADI TIRTHYATRA or CHAITYA PARIPARTI. This is another post-Paryushan tradition revived in Toronto by a clutch of enthusiasts who have been working at it for last 11 or more years. This year's yatra was a five-tirth trip of 54 lively members of Toronto Jain Sangh who gathered in the early hours of Saturday, Oct.11 at the Jain Centre. The first puja and arti were performed and after a brief welcome and getting to know each other, the group proceeded to Buffalo, the second irth on the itinere. At the Buffalo Devalaya, we were warmly welcomed by the Buffalo Jain Sangh which included the past and present Presidents of JAINA. We all participated in the puja, arti, stavan singing and very sumptuous lunch.
Our third destination was Boston Jain temple. The long bus ride gave an unique opportunity for people to show relaxed side
In the afternoon, we proceeded to Al- bany, our fourth tirth. Our hosts showed tremendous gratitude for choosing their town as our tirth and spared no effort to make us welcome and comfortable. We were put up in a local motel for the night and next morning after breakfast, we headed for Syracuse, our fifth and final tirth. The eleven-family Jain Sangh of Syracuse may have been small in number but the welcome was elaborate and warm. A local commu- nity hall was set up for puja, singing and lunch. We had a special treat of singing new stavans written by two of the local Sangh members. We were thoroughly awed by their hospitality and it was time to say goodbye. Each of us were given a packed dinner and then we proceeded towards Toronto. This was a thoroughly enjoyable outing for all of us. Not only it represents revival of our old tradition, but it reinforces a feeling of community in thinly spread out fellow Jains in North America.
The success story of 9th Biennial JAINA Convention in summer of 1997 reverber. ates not only in North America but also in India, Europe and Africa. The Convention Organizing Committee(COC) met in Toronto Jain Centre last month to study the accounts and to everyone's delight, the secretary of Finance confirmed that we had achieved a surplus of over $150,000. The COC congratulated themselves on achiev
ing many 'firsts. This is the first JAINA Convention in last 18 years since JAINA's inception that will show surplus when the audited accounts are published. This is the first JAINA Convention where the COC has publicly agreed to share the surplus with JAINA to the tune of 25%. We hope that this will become a future trend and help JAINA towards a secure financial footing. This Convention has also instilled tremendous confidence and a sense of unity among Toronto Jain Sangh.
Mr.Bakul Soneji from Irwine, California, an expert proponent of Maharshi Patanjali's Yog-Shastra, has found a willing audience among Jains who already follow many aspects of Yog in their daily life when they do Samayak, Dhyan, Asnas etc. The Yog presentations at Jain Centre are attended by mixed audiences of Jains and others.
On November 9,1997, the Jain Society of Toronto organized Diwali Celebrations at Martingrove Collegiate and was attended by over 1000+ members and their guests. The program of entertainment organised by young Jains showed not only their professionalism but a beautiful demonstration of their talents in presenting short dramas, (eg. Gandhar Gautam's entreaties to Bhagwan Mahavir before achieving Keval Gnan), in garba and dances with colourful costumes and appropriate music, in singing stavans and songs accompanied by harmonium and tabla, again played by young Jains. People mingled before and after the dinner wishing everyone a happy new year. It was an enjoyable occasion.
The Young Jains of Toronto have their own voice. The success of the 1997 JAINA Convention has inspired the Jain youths of Toronto to form Young Jains of Toronto(YJT), an organization to promote active participation of youths in the religious, social and cultural activities in Toronto. The membership at present stands at
JAIN DIGEST WINTER 1997/7
Jain Education Intemational