Jain Digest 2001 03 Vol 18 No 02

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

Page 23

REGIONAL NEWS (continued)
HOUSTON, TX
Here are some updates for last several months from the Jain Society of Houston. Past year has been a very busy year. Executive committee accomplished a lot of things. The biggest of all was the approval of a revised constitution by the committee, trustees and finally by the general body. Last year we were blessed by quite a few scholars and Sadhus. Earlier Atmanandji, Tarlaben Doshi, Dr. Atul Shah, Muni Rupchandji and Muni Jinchandraji visited and Samaniji Akshaypragyaji and Sanmatipragyaji blessed us during Paryushan.
Under Secretary General Wangde's guid
ance and leadership each and every religious and cultural organization in Houston participated in millennium Republic day celebration. Our society also participated. Our
Jain fellowship students' band was very
impressive.
celebration, and to top it all off, the best one was the 2600th Janma Jayanti of Bhagvan Mahavir in April 2001. It was a three-days celebration. On Friday evening, April 6th we did jaap and bhajans which were sung by a famous singer Mrs. Minoo Purushottam. On Saturday, April 7th, lectures and seminar started at 10.00 am.
Around 2:30 p.m., Mr. Wangde visited our center. Then, Jain fellowship students 14 and up presented the YJA drama on Bhagwan Mahavir's past lives. They did an excellent job. The background and the costumes were excellent. Everybody worked hard. Thanks to the participants, and the organizers. On Sunday, April 8th we had 2 more hours of fun. This time it was younger
Pathshala children who performed very
well. Now, the parents, teachers and students are so excited that they want to do similar type of presentations more often. Such programs are very healthy for the Jain Sangh as they bring out togetherness, lead
ership, and teach us to tolerate other people. JSH contact is Parimal Desai at 281-8593661 Perry.Desai@Jacobs.com
NORTHEAST
Dinesh Chheda, Regional Editor
We have a new executive committee in place. Our new president is still Bhupesh Sheth and VP is Pratima Desai. Navin Shah will likely be our chief trustee. Udaibhai Jain will assume the JAINA VP position for the Southwest region. Among other accomplishments, we organized our library and bought a new computer for the library. Now, we have bar codes for library books and video for quick check in/out. About 100 of us went to New Orleans for "Chaitya Paripati". New Orleans Jain Sangh took good care of us. That Sangh is very small
but everybody there has a big heart. They were very good hosts. Hats off to them. We successfully collected $55,000.00 for the Gujarat Earthquake Relief fund. This includes $25,000.00 contribution from the Jain Society of Houston.
on April 6th, 2001 Uthapan (removing)
Throughout the whole year our executive committee worked hard. Under their coor- ceremony of Ithaca street temple was urday June 16, and a Pravachan series by dination and full support from parents and
Dr. Hukamchandji Bharill from June 25 to
July 1, 2001.
children we celebrated lots of blessed occasions such as Diwali day celebration, Swami Vatsalya day, Mahavir Jayanti, Republic day
NEWYORK, NY
Jain Center of America (JCA) New York February 4, 2001 JCA had fund raising for devastating earthquake in India. More then 500 members gathered and collected approx $130,000.00 for this fund. March 31st, 2001 to April 8th, 2001 more then 30 tapasvis took part in Aayambil Oli
celebrated for construction of new temple
of a about 25,000 sq. ft. Jain Center of America celebrated 2600 Janma Kalyanak of Lord Mahavir on April
22, 2001. More than 150 participants ranging from age 5 to young adults presented 9 cultural items related to Jainism. More than 1500 sadharmik brothers and sisters joined the celebration. Shri Chitrabhanuji read Janma Mahotsav.
WASHINGTON, DC
Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington The 2600th Janma Kalyanak day on Friday April 6, 2001 was celebrated with Pooja in the morning, Navkar Jaap during the day, and a Bhavana program in the evening. Mahavir Jayanti celebration was held on
Sunday, April 8, 2001 with a stage program
followed by Swami Vatsalya Bhojan. The stage program was presented by youngsters and consisted of prayer songs, prayer dances, Ras/Garba and skits. About 600 people attended the program.
A reception was held in honor of Gurudev Chitrabhanu, Manak Muniji, JAINA presidents and other dignitaries who had come to Washington to witness the historic recitation of a Jain prayer in the US Congress. The reception was unique in that all JAINA presidents attended it. All dignitaries were requested to give a short address to the audience. Their message, in general, stressed that JAINA is well known for its unity and that we must continue the same. On May 22, the U.S. Congress opened with a Jain prayer in English recited by Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanu. This historic event was followed by a short speech by congressman Frank Pallone who paid tributes to the Jain philosophy of non-violence and to the Jain community in North America.
Upcoming programs include a Meditation/Pravachan session with Samni Mangal
Prajnaji and Samani Vineet Prajnaji on Sat
JAIN DIGEST. SUMMER 2001/21