Jain Digest 1999 07

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

Page 22

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE TOTH BIEN
ALJAINA
THE TEMPLE
A beautiful big temple 25' x 25'x 25' made from hydrostone replicating the Temple brought from Gujarat to the World Fair in St Louis in 1903 and now residing in Los Angeles Jain Center, was erected as a Center Piece of the convention in the main hall. This was created by Dr Nipul Shah and his team of San Diego Center.
Shah Associates led by Dr Vinod Shah and Dr Mahesh Shah loved the temple so much that they declared a " Matching Daan " there and then to any one who donates money for the temple. The Executive Committee of Siddhachalam met and accepted the offer to take the temple to Siddhachalam. $ 27,500 was pledged by various donors and Shah Associates' matching donation of $27,500 made it $55,000 for the Convention.
LECTURES
The afternoon saw multitude of Lectures, Seminars and Debates with and between speakers from USA, UK, Canada and India. The exhibitions was full of booths from many centers depicting Jainism and its practices. There were films on Jain themes and mythology. People were very happy with the variety of speakers organized by The Speakers Committee, led by Dr. Vinod Shah and Nirmal Dosi.
The evening saw the most spectacular display of talent from Jain centers from all over USA and Canada. There were dances galore. Dr Mahendra & Hansaben Shah and Prafulbhai & Kernikaben Mehta had put in great effort in organizing this cultural program and it showed. Program went like clock work and it concluded on time.
On Sunday morning (July 4th Father Valles was the keynote speaker. He said he has been given a title of Honorary Jain “and he is proud of it. He credited Mahaveer's Management strategy for the survival of Jainism against foreign invasions where Buddhism had failed to survive. The institutions of not just "Monks" and "Nuns", but "Shravak- Shravika" created by him are what sustained Jainism through the ages. Honorable Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Keshubhai Patel arrived and delivered an inspiring speech.
In the afternoon, along with Father Valles many speakers were
Father Valles with Jain munis.
20/JAIN DIGEST FALL 1999 Jain Education International
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PHILADELPHIA, PA JULY 2-5, 1999
Chief Minister of Gujarat Keshubhai Patel address the gathering, as Dhiraj Shah, Gurudev Chitrabhanu, Grand Marshal Navin C. Mehta, H.R. Shah (TV Asia) and Dhirubhai Shah (Speaker of Gujarat Assembly) look on.
sought after by the attendees. There were debates and discussions. There was " Academic Bowl" which was a major attraction for the Young Jains. There was inter faith dialogue. For the first time there was Continuing Medical Education Seminar organized by Meeta D. Peer, MD and Dr. Mahesh Shah. The hall was bubbling with energy of Young Jains wanting to learn and grow - Vardhamaan. Sunday afternoon was an important event for ladies. This seminar was addressed by Indian Consul General at New York Mrs. Tripathi and Acharya Chandanaji and discussed the role of women in modern age.
SIDDHA CHAKRA MAHAPOOJAN
For the first time at a convention, there was a Siddha Chakra Poojan. It was performed with the idea that many small centers cannot easily hope to have a Mahapoojan like this that requires a lot of people to participate and perform. This poojan gave Young Jains an educated idea of what a classic Jain poojan (prayer) is like and what it involves. The fund raised from Siddha Chakra Poojan will be used for temple purposes only. The Convention Board is in the process of collecting all the pledges so that it can pay all its bills for expenses incurred for the Convention.
The evening saw a parade of Indian dresses by young Jains, which was well liked by the young and the young at heart! The lively Rajendra Jain again delighted the crowds. There was a drama written by Devendra Peer and directed by Ramesh Shah Patan Ni Pabhuta based on the famous novel by K.M.Munshi. The story based on historical facts depicted the glory of Gujarat at a critical time in its history and showed how the Jain Queen and the Jain Prime Minister had saved Gujarat with their vision, valour and personal sacrifice.
Sunday evening also witnessed the draw of raffle tickets. Three winners were declared. The first prize winner is Apurva Bhansari from Texas and the third prize winner is Raksha Gajarwala from New Jersey. The second prize winner has not come forward to claim