Jain Digest 2004 11 Vol 23 No 4

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

Page 24

REGIONAL NEWS....
SOUTHEAST Surendra Shah, Regional Editor
Soon after paryusana, the sangh was blessed by Munishri Roopchandji who gave discourses in Hindi on Das Laxana. Then Pandit Dhirubhai Mehta explained, with his practical illustrations, the variety of karmas.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA:
Jain Society of Central Florida, Orlando, FL observed Paryushan Parva, Das Laxna, Samniji's lectures and Sapna Darshan took MIDWEST place on Aug. 30th. Over 150 people par- Manu Doshi,, Regional Editor ticipated in it. About 30,000 dollars were collected for the temple project. The temple project is almost finished and it should be
CHICAGO,IL ready for prathista by June next year. Samvatsari Pratikramans were held. During Parsuyan there was one member with
The religious classes for children as well 21 Upvas, 2 - 12 Upvas, 15 Atthais and
as adults are held on the third Sunday of other tapsyas among adults and children.
every month. The attendance is maintained Parnas were held in Orlando, Merritt Is
at a very high level. Gujarati language and land, Daytona Beach and Tallahassee.
medication classes are held every 2nd Sunday
and Yoga classes are held every Monday and Tapasvis bahuman was hosted in Orlando
Wednesday. Ärati is performed everyday in and Tallahassee.
the evening at 8.00 P.M. During the year we had Shri Dhirajlal
On the occasion of Paryushan Parva Pandit, Smt. Sunandaben Vora and Smt.
Shraman Shrutprajnaji gave discourses in Tarlaben Doshi, Jain Scholars from India
Gujarati. His discourses were very and continued bi-weekly swadhayay by
interesting and the people thronged to listen Samnijis.
to him. His colleague Shraman
Sthitaprajnaji gave talks to the children in ATLANTA, GA
English. Dr. Shantibhai Patel also gave
discourses on subjects pertaining to Paryushan Parva was celebrated with one
Shrimad Rajchandra. Evening Bhavanäs of the largest participations from the were performed by Khelaiya group of community. The parva was celebrated in
Mumbai. The people enjoyed them as well. presence of Sunandaben Vora. Sunandaben The Swapna Darshan was organized in has written several easy to follow and lucid the presence of about 2000 people. They books on Jain philosophy. Sunandaben gave participated in Gheeboli. The society discourses on Kalpasutra. With her collected about $ 60,000. inspiration, Samuh Aarati (Group Aarati). Many people observed austerities on that was performed for the first time by Atlanta occasion. Two persons observed Varshi Tap Jain Sangh. During Mahavir Jayanti, over and one of them also observed fasts during $300,000 was pledged for the Derasar. A all the Paryushan days. One person observed large number of members, young and adult fast for 13 days, three for 11 days, one for performed Tapashcharya ranging from 15 10 days and one for 9 days. In addition, 63 day fasts, Atthais, four and three day fasts people observed for 8 days and 10 of them to Eksanas. At the end of parva over 200 were youngsters. Moreover, 65 youngsters, members participated in sangh parnas. including of some very young children,
observed different types of austerities like Attham (fasting for three days) etc. Paramätma Prakash Bharrill gave discourses on all the 10 days on Dashlaxanä Parva.
Ätmasiddhi anniversary and Laghurajswami's birth day were organized on October 12. More than 100 people enthusiastically participated therein.
On the occasion of Lord Mahavir's Nirvan day, Nirvän Ladu was offered in the early morning on October 25.
On the occasion of Gujarati new year, Snätra Pooja was organized in the morning, group Ashtaprakäri Poojän in the afternoon and Bhävanä in the evening on October 26. During Ashtapakäri Poojan the meaning of each stanza was explained to the participants in English as well as in Gujarati.
50h anniversary of Brahmachärijee and Shrimad Rajchandra's 135th birth day were celebrated in November.
The biennial election for the office bearers of the Society was held on Nov 23. The names of the office bearers for the years 2004 and 2005 are as under.
Board of Trustees: Jyotindra Doshi, Narendra Khandwala, Dr. Devendra (D.U). Shah, Samprati Shah and Urmila Talsania
Executive Committee members President: Arvind Shah Vice president: Bhanu Shah Secretary: Atul Shah Treasurer: Girish Shah Joint Treasurer: Nilesh Shah Education Secretary: Dr. Mukesh Doshi Membership Secretary: Kushalraj Singavi Youth Secretary: Nirav Shah Food Secretary: Hitesh Shah
22 / JAIN DIGEST-Fall 2003