Jain Digest 2003 09 Vol 22 No 3

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

Page 27

REGIONAL NEWS....
WEST
lectures August 15-22. Jain Center Youth Chandrakant Parekh,, Regional Editor Council (JCYC) will be led by Akash Y. Shah and Mona Shah as co-Presidents. Information about forthcoming programs and regular activities are posted on JCSC's website at www.jaincenter.net. For additional information, please contact Dr. Nitin Shah, JCSC President, at 714/ 506-6699 or nitin.shah@med.va.gov.
LOS ANGELES, CA
Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC) celebrated the 16th Anniversary of Jain Bhavan Inauguration on July 13 with a program of puja and dhwaj changing ceremony led by Shri Nirmal Doshi from Ahmadabad.
Significant progress has been achieved with the construction of the new Jain Bhavan, which began in October 2002. Following the completion of the subterranean parking area, the post-tensioned slab has been poured and stressed. The pace of construction activities should now increase rapidly since all the underground work has been completed and the construction activity will take place at the ground level and above. Manufacturing of the carved marble pieces is under way at the Trivedi Corporation Private Limited (TCPL), Ahemadabad. Architect Vipool Shah of Ahemadabad and Rupa Sharma of Los Angeles are assisting with the interior decorations and museum displays. Opportunities to donate for major takhtis are still available. Phase II plans are under review and will be finalized shortly. Project details, building plans, and progress photos are available at the www.jaincenter expansion.com website.
A musical charity gala presented on May 30 by Ravindra Jain, a renowned musical director from Bollywood, raised over $120,000 for the Jain Bhavan Expansion Building Fund. A unique photo exhibition on "Jainism: Ancient Tradition, Modern Values" was presented on July 8 by Dr. Atul Shah, editor of Jain Spirit. Sunandaben Vohra presented discourses on Jainism July 28 to August 7. Pandit Dhirajlal Mehta presented a series of
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Jain Center of Northern California (JCNC) recently celebrated the third temple anniversary. The temple has become a magnet for both the Jain community members and various non-Jains of Bay Area. Well known singer Shri Ravindra Jain gave a a performance at Jain Bhawan.
In a continuing effort to promote Jainism's message of non-violence and peaceful co-existence, JCNC has initiated a Community Outreach Program. In one event, Dr. David Pinault, Associate Professor from Department of Religious
Studies at Santa Clara University, along with 25 of his students were invited to visit the temple and learn about the basics of Jainism. In the second event, a motherdaughter team (Vibhaben and Nirali Vora) made a presentation on Jainism at Stanford University.
Vidhikar Shri Manojbhai Haran along SACRAMENTO, CA with the talented Jain brothers led the Jain Bhawan's 3rd Pratishtha Anniversary celebrations. Manojbhai is a veteran in Pratishtha celebrations, having preformed more then 500 Jain Mandir Pratishthas. The two-day program included the Eighteen Abhishek ceremony for all pratimas, the Satterbhedi puja and the Shikhar Dhawaja change ceremony. Over 500 members, ranging in age 2 yrs to 80+ yrs, participated in the Annual Picnic held at the San Jose Historic Museum Park on July 13. The fun-filled event included a carnival for children, various games for the young and adults, and tasty Jain food. 2004 YJA Biennial Convention will be held in SAN DIEGO, CA the Bay Area. JCNC Cultural Team presented a superb performance at the JAINA cultural program.
JCNC has introduced the first of its kind online capability to process membership enrollment, renewal of membership, event registration, updating personal profile, and pledging donations. The database is secure. Additional details are available in "JCNC Darpan". Members and non-members can request a copy of "JCNC Darpan" by registering at JCNC's web site www.jcnc.org. For additional information, please contact pr@jcnc.org.
Jain Center of Greater Sacramento (JCGS) organizes a monthly Swadhyay which is hosted by different families. Samnijis Mangalpragya and Shardapragya are visiting JCGS and will oversee the Paryushan Mahaparva activities. Samnijis have offered lectures on meditation, yoga and conducted special programs for children. For additional information, please contact Mohini Jain, JCGS President, at 530/756-4655 or mohini_jain@msn.com.
e-mail:
Jain Society of San Diego (JSSD) organizes regular activities - a monthly Jainshala for children, adult classes, swadhyay, and a weekly pooja every Saturday at Shri Mandir. For additional information, please contact Trusha Shah, JSSD President at 760/943-1241 or e-mail: shaht64@hotmail.com.
JAIN DIGEST⚫ Fall 2003/25