Jain Digest 2001 07 Vol 19 No 03

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

Page 20

AIN
11th Biennial JAINA Convention held during July 5-8 in Chicago at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center was a highly So successful event. 6,000 attendees Welcome from all corners of North America gathered to celebrate their faith, renew friendships and make new friends. There were scores of invited monks, scholars and dignitaries who had come especially from India for this convention. A very colorful souvenir was issued for the occasion and was included in the registration package along with books and CDs in a customized shoulder bag that people carried about all three days.
ONVENOR
HIGHLIGHTS OF CONVENTION 2001
The icebreaker on the first evening on July 5 was supposed to be a low-key get-together but turned out to be a fabulous event beyond any one's imagination. Young adults dressed in their best and wearing widest smiles were all over. Dandia Raas program was a sight to behold. At mid night, they ran out of drinking water but the music and the dancing would not stop. Everyone was looking forward to meet again in the morning for the opening session.
A very colorful procession around the convention hall on early morning of July 6 with tall flags and JAINA banners proceeded the opening session. The crowd very well received a ten-minute video presentation on large video screens about JAINA and all the past conventions. Since Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanu could not attend due to ill health, his prerecorded keynote speech was presented to the fully packed convention hall. He made an impassionate speech on the need for the Jains of the North America to stay united. Other scholars and monks throughout the convention echoed his message.
18/JAIN DIGEST⚫ FALL 2001
The most colorful event followed the opening session in the adjoining hall was opening of the replica of Pawapuri Mandir specially built for this convention. This opening was also the JAINA's launching of the yearlong celebration of Lord Mahavir's 2600th birth anniversary. 26 families lighted a lamp to mark the 2600th Anniversary. The opening ceremony also served as a major fund raiser for the convention. The temple was another master piece
creation of Dr.Nipul Shah of San Diego, CA and his team of 35 volunteers. The temple surrounded with a lake and fountains was an emotional nourishment for all the attendees. Many attendees visited the temple 2 or 3 times a day.
SEX?
All throughout the convention, there were so many things happening simultaneously at different locations that for the people attending the convention. It was like being a kid in the candy store. Every one was walking around with updated "Schedule of events" and pondering where to go next. There were yoga demonstrations, meditations, Bhakti geets and Pratikamans in the mornings and scores of seminars all day into late nights. There were separate youth programs, programs for women, gatherings of affiliated organizations or interest groups like the alumni of Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya, KOJAIN, Pathshala teachers etc.
Dilip V. Shab Philadelphia
Dr. Manibhai Mehta, Past President of JAINA was awarded JAINA RATNA award and the Presidential Award was given to Induben Jain of the Times of India group of companies. JAINA Recognition awards and Youth awards were also given to 14 individuals. Bipin Parikh was elected as the President for the next two
years. The other members of his executive committee who were elected to serve with him were: Anop Vora (Rochestern NY) the first Vice President, Kirit Daftary (Waco, TX) as the Secretary, Girish Shah of Campbell, CA as the Treasurer, and Sushil Jain, Lata Champsee, Ila Mehta, Mahendra Mehta, Uday Jain and Hasendra Shah as regional Vice Presidents.
The seminars and panel discussions headed by the scholars throughout the convention were the crown jewels of the four-day
WELCOME TO Bil C001