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REGIONAL NEWS (continued)
break all the previously held records for the Jains in North America. They came in 8 buses, the 400 members of the Jain Center of America, came to visit our Temple on Sunday, September 26th. They were greeted by our President Pravin Dand and about 100 other members of the Society. A Snatra Pooja was performed in the presence of about 500 members followed by a ceremony to felicitate the visiting mem
bers.
On Saturday, October 9th about 150 members of the Kutchhi Dasa Oswal families living in the NorthEastern United States came to visit the Temple and to attend the Kshamapana program organized by Kutchhi Dasa families from Maryland and Virginia.
MIDWEST Manubhai Doshi, Regional Editor
Chicago, IL
The Paryushan Parva was celebrated
under the guidance of Kiran Parikh of Bombay from September 7th to 14th. Discourses and Bhavana were held on almost all the days. The display of Mother's dreams was organized on the September 11th which was attended by more than 1000 people. Samvatsari Pratikraman in Gujarati as well as English was performed on the last day. More than 1000 people took advantage of that. Many people observed different austerities during the Parva. There were about 55 Atthai and one girl observed 11 days' fast. All of them were honored on Septem
ber 26th.
Daslakshna Parva was celebrated from 15th to 24th September under the guidance of Pandit Abhaykumar Jain. He conducted Puja and gave discourses on all the days. Many people took advantage of arrangements for aayambils on October 16th, 17th, 23rd and 24th
Chicago Chapter of Jain Social Group organized a Diwali function on 23rd Octo
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ber. About 95% of its members were present on that occasion. Manubhai Doshi gave a talk on Jainism at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago on October 24th morning.
Atmasiddhishastra Jayanti and the birth day of Laghurajswami were also celebrated on October 24th. The devotees of Shrimad Rajchandra enthusiastically took part therein.
Lord Mahavir's Nirvan day was celebrated on November 7th. A drama titled Jainism in the 21st century in America was presented on that occasion by the students of the religious classes. The performance was excellent and was well received. Vikram Samvat new year was celebrated on November 9th with Snatrapuja, Bhavana etc.
Detroit, MI
The health fair was organized in August when arrangements were made for checking blood sugar, cholesterol, bone density and heart. About 100 people took advantage of those facilities.
Paryushan Parva was celebrated from
September 7th to 14th under the guidance of Chirabhanuji with enthusiasm. Snatrapuja, Bhavana, Pratikraman and discourses were conducted on all those days. Swapna ceremony was attended by more than 800 people. Chitrabhanuji and Hermann Kuhn of Germany gave a talk to the youths on September 12th, which was attended by about 250 persons. More than 75 people observed different austerities in clusive of atthai and 12 days' fasts during
the Parva. Das Lakshna Parva also was cel
ebrated from September 15th to 24th A fund raising program called Sur Sadhana was organized on October 1st. Ahimsa day was observed on October 3rd. About 80 people observed Ayambil on that day.
St. Louis, MI
Paryushan Parva was celebrated from September 7th to 14th in the presence of
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Manubhai Doshi of Chicago. He gave discourses on various aspects of Jainism. He also conducted two sessions on meditation and one for Swadhyay. Display of swapna was held on September 12th and every one, inclusive of youths, enthusiastically participated therein. Pratikraman was performed on the first and the last day. Diwali and Mahavir Nirvan day was celebrated during the third weekend of November in the presence of Samani Madhuprajnä and Akshayprajnä.
Cincinnati/Dayton, OH
Jain Center of Cincinnati / Dayton organized a membership appreciation day for the first time instead of picnic. This program, which involved games, food and outdoors theatre, was attended by more than 100 members. The Jain community also recognized graduating youths.
This summer center was busy with visits from Gurudev Roop Chandji Maharaj during Aug 12-18; Shri Amrendramuni was present during Paryushan Parva. On Samvatsari Day, English Pratikraman for youth in addition to traditional
Pratikraman was held.
On October 3rd, Jain center of Cincinnati/Dayton celebrated Ahimsa Day and about 150 individuals attended the program. We had five panels (from Ohio area) represented by Dr. Martin Luther King's family members, St. Francis of Assisi Church members, Ahimsa Organization members, students from the University of Dayton, Youth members, Shri Jayantibhai Shah, Dr. Balbhadra and Mr. Edward Klaben of the
Jewish Federation. Each panel was asked to address two questions: 1) current initiatives within organization to promote non-violence and 2) future plan to promote Ahimsa
in the next millennium. Dr. Surendra Singhvi was the moderator and facilitated the entire program. All 15 panelists were given Jain books provided by JAINA.
Ahimsa Day was celebrated in numerous Jain Centers and at Siddhachalam.
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