Jain Digest 2002 04

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

Page 11

UPCOMING EVENTS:
JAINA YATRA 2003 SAMETSHIKHAR
The Pilgrimage Committee of JAINA is planning a pilgrimage of Sametsikhar and other Tirthdhams. We expect to leave for the two-week pilgrimage on or about January 17, 2003
Teerthyatra for Jains is a way of revitalizing the soul that has been tired due to worldly chores. This pilgrimage will take us to Delhi, Hastinapur, Shouryapuri (Agra), Ayodhya, Ratnapuri, Varanasi, Champapuri, Lachhwad, Rajgir, Veerayatan, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bodhi Gaya, Shikharji and Calcutta. This plan covers visiting more than 75 Kalyanak Bhoomis and a few distinguished Jain institutions. Most of the traveling will be by train and we will be staying in Dharamsalas or hotels depending on the availability.
Detailed itinerary is still being worked out. Registration forms and more details will be posted on JAINA website (jaina.org) in August and in the next issue of JAIN DIGEST The pilgrims will meet in Delhi to begin the Yatra and disperse in Calcutta. You will make your own arrangments to fly to India and back. For further
iformation, contact:
Dilip V. Shah, 1902 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 or dilipvshah@aol.com
JAIN DIGEST LIFE MEMBER UPDATE
651U Ramesh and Naina Shah, Diamond Bar, 652U Priti B. Shah, Edison, NJ
653U Dilip and Ranjan Punatar, Bellbrook, OH 654U Hemendra and Daksha Patel, Livingston, NJ 655U Prakash and Ila Doshi, Walnut, CA 656U Dhirendra and Priti Mehta, Fort Myers, FL 657U Mukund and Hansa Shah, Parkersburg, WV 658U Jayantilal and Jyotsna Sanghvi, Naples, FL 659U Kanti and Palavi Shah, North Bergen, NJ 660U Himesh and Alpa Shah, Plano, TX 661U Virendra and Kalpana Shah, Dayton, NJ 662U Subodh and Sadhana Mehta, East Haven, CT
This is a list of new Jain Digest life members whose dues were received upto May 20, 2002. Please send your $101.00 Jain Digest life membership dues to Keerti Shah, 842 Lakeside Drive, Bartlett
Illinois 60103, Phone: 630-837-8716.
CA
ATLANTIC JAIN SANGH PRATISTHA MAHOSAV
The ATLANTIC JAIN SANGH cordially invites everyone to the Pratistha Mahotsav. The three-day Mahotsav is from July 12 to July 14th and will be under the spiritual guidance of Gurudev Chitrabhanuji. Vidhikarak Shri Narendra Nandu and his group. For further information please contact Kundanben Ghelani at (609)748-0032
AHIMSA DAY CELEBRATION (October 6, 2002)
Ahimsa (or non-violence) is the most important principle of
Jainism. The followers practice Ahimsa in thoughts, words and actions. In 1991 JAINA decided to celebrate the Ahimsa Day on the first Sunday in October each year to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi's birthday. The purpose of the celebration is to promote the principle of non-violence with the objective of achieving peace and goodwill in the world.
The Federation consists of 57 Jain centers. The celebration by local Jain centers include activities such as serving food to homeless people, organizing talks, interfaith panel discussions on Ahimsa, , youth participation by writing essays on Ahimsa, and practicing Ahimsa by controlling AGED (i.c.Anger, Greed, Ego and Deceit).
These celebrations throughout North America are encouraged and coordinated by Dr. Surendra Singhvi of Jain Center of Cincinnati & Dayton (937-885-7414). A lot of Jains been assisting him over the last 11 years _Mrs. Chanchala Mehta of Memphis, Mr. Suresh Shah of St. Louis, Dr. Salgia from Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Manoj Dharamsi from Washington, D.C., Dr. Dhiraj Shah of Buffalo, Mr. Narendra Sheth from San Diego, Dr. Sulekh Jain from Houston, Mr. Shanti Shah from Siddhachalam, Mrs. Seema Jain from Chicago, Mr. Dilip Punatar from Dayton, Dr. Surendra Sethi from Pittsburgh, Mr. Ramesh Shah from Cleveland, etc.
To facilitate these celebrations by local Jain centers, the committee provides information on Ahimsa Day which includes vidcos, articles and books related to non-violence and vegetarianism.
One of the goals of the committee is to seck proclamation for Ahimsa Day at the local, state and federal government levels. Such proclamation creates awareness about Jainism, Lord Mahavir, nonviolence and vegetarianism. Since 1991, proclamations have been President. The eleventh annual celebration of Ahimsa Day will be issued by several city mayors, and state governors and the U.S. organized on October 6, 2002. May the Ahimsa Day approach bring peace in the world.
Surendra Singhvi, Chairman
Ahimsa Day Celebration Committee
JAIN DIGEST. SUMMER 2002/9