Jain Digest 2007 04

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

Page 29

Jain Digest Summer 2007
There were so many lectures and seminars on topics such as Jeevdaya, Jain rituals, Jain Diet. Jain Philosophy and Jain literature that four days seemed to pass as quickly as a sweet dream. Sunday had a record breaking 3,000+ crowd (a record for the closing day of the convention) in anticipation of Dr. Dipak Jain's speech. They were handsomely rewarded as Dipak Jain talked about ethics, values and leadership through Jain perspective.
EXHIBITS
More than 100 gemstone idols - three Chovishis - Past Present & Future with Ashtapad replica in natural crystal and three mini Chovishi (Emerald, crystal and assorted gemstones) was the main attraction of the convention. Literature on the research work being done on Ashtapad was also made available.
Another major attraction at this convention was a 16' x 20' Rangoli by 5 artists from Kenya who flew in specially to create an amazing "SAMOVSARAN" The Rangoli team was headed by Reshmaben Shah and they worked day & night to bring this masterful display of devotion. They carried with them 200 Kgs of marble powder in 500 different shades and colors that produced a three dimensional effect with nearly 100 figures - never before seen in USA.
Many Jain Artistsof North America: Alka Dalal, Surbhi Pandya, Mahendra Shah, Shefali Ajmera, Chandu Desai, Sudhir Shah and Yogendra Sethi also displayed their art work on the convention floor. The entire artist gallery was displaying various themes of our spiritual heritage.
ENLIGHTENED ENTERTAINMENT
More than 160 children from 7 different Pathshalas gave mesmerizing performances. Boston Pathshala gave a musical play on 5 Kalyanaks of Bhagwan Rishabh Dev and Jain Center of America (New York) gave us another musical play ASHTAPARIHARYA. These two Pathshala performances on Saturday evening won every heart in the auditorium.
Every convention before this one had an evening of competition of various Pathshala Children and a trophy was awarded to the winning Pathshala. This year we retired the trophy. Instead of competition, we offered collaboration of various pathshalas to give us a musical play "SAMOVSARAN" that was produced by Veeraytan. Sadhwi Shri Shilapiji explained 36 gathas from UTTARADHYAN SUTRA as children danced to the original melodious composition of sutras in Prakrit...........Singing was by Ashit Desai / Hema Desai, Alap Desai of Bombay and Mangalam.
Apurva Avsar the play on life of Shrimad Rajchandra was the prime offering on Thursday evening. That mesmerized the audience for more than 2 hours.
Bollywood star Sanjivanee gave a melodious performance of MEERA - the supreme example of Bhakti - Devotion ... and later sentimental songs from 40's and 50's mixed with some modern songs.....
JAIN DIASPORA
JAINA inaugurated the first ever forum on JAIN DIASPORA at 14th JAINA convention held in Edison,NJ on saturday, July 7th 2007.
Dr.L.M.Singhavi chaired with Acharya Chandanaji, Ambassador Dr.N.P.Jain and Padma shree Kumarpal Desai co-chairing. Dr. Dhiraj Shah, former president of JAINA moderated the meeting. Among the 150 who participated in the seminar were Delegates from Belgium, Canada, India, Kenya, Kuwait, Germany, Singapore, Dubai., United Kingdom and U.S.A. Dr.Singhavi stressed the need for such a forum and congratulated JAINA for taking a leadership role in fostering Jain Unity in North America and now world wide. This kind of gathering can go long way and benefit Jain community world wide not only to present generation but generations to come.
It was decided that at every JAINA convention in the future, one day pre-convention seminar will be held on the subject and web bases discussion group will start very soon with views of Jain leaders from. The forum will be non-sectarian and non political.
This may be the most important "take away" of the convention. This forum intends to be voice of Jains around the world and initiate the actions to benefit Jain community anywhere.
Valliant Volunteers
Above all, it was the volunteers that delivered the most successful JAINA Convention ever. Food Committee, Registration Committee, Transportation committee, Program Committee and the Scholars committee volunteers working with TEAM NJ headed by Vinay Vakani and Virendra Shah of Jain Center of NJ gave scores and scores of dedicated volunteers. These volunteers worked 18 hours a day and gave service with the smile. Transportation arrangements between the convention center and hotels, to the Newark airport and to the Temples of New York and Siddhachalam were plentiful and smooth. No unhappy incident was reported anywhere on the convention floor in four days.
Excerpts of the keynote speeches and of other scholars and photographs of the convention taken by Vasant Vora of Philadelphia and can be viewed on ww.jaina.org
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