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NEWS & EVENTS
28
Jain Digest Summer 2007
The Jain Society Of San Diego Conducts chandan puja and stavans every sautrday from 8 am to 9 am. We meet the first friday of the month from 8 pm to 10 pm and discuss on different issues/topics related to jainisum, do some bhakti and socialize.
We actively run pathshala twice a month. We have 4 levels consisting of kids ages 4 to 17 years old. We teach jain values with current application,art and craft activites, board projects, power point presentation and tests. This year we also started adult pathshala. For more information contact Parul Kothari at 858-385-1717 or pdkothari@aol.com
On Mahavir Jayanti the pathshala kids performed a play on "karma ka Fal" by Rohak Vora. Stavans by Paresh Shah, dances by swati vora and brinda shah, a presentation on 4 bhavanas by darshita, sparsh, parima, aditi,nicole, ruchi and shivangi, Jain Jeoperdy conducted by jagruti maniar kishor mehta and parul kothari.
Onces a month we also have an adult study group in gujarati which teaches jainisum in depth lead by sri Girishbhai. Jiv daya activities are looked upon by Narendra Sheth. We support Purple Cow, an animal shelter organization and Kishor Mehta is advocating this noble cause. Homeless feeding is an ongoing activity lead by nipul shah. Our current president is smt Lata Vora 858-538-0224.
NEWS FROM PITTSBURG
Finally, spring arrived in the This was when 150 members, Finally, spring arrived in the This was when 150 members, which included shravaks, shravikas and children gathered at the Hindu Jain Temple on March 31 to celebrate the 2533 rd Janma Kalyanak of Lord Mahavir Swami. Shravikas, in colorful saris, along with shravaks, in Puja dresses, lifted the spirit of the atmosphere.
During the day, we performed Snatra Puja with the help of our Bhakti Mandal and heard melodious Stavans from a few shravaks. Swami Vatsalya was sponsored by one of our Jain families who, along with their children, came prepared with a special Stavan. This particular family is leaving Pittsburgh to settle in India for good, and we wish them well.
On April 27, the Pittsburgh Jain sangh went for a Panch Tirth Yatra with about 45 members, which included seven children and one senior citizen. The days were full of activites of Darshan, Puja, satsang, Chaiantyavandan and Bhavana.
Our journey started from Pittsburgh to our neighboring states of New York and New Jersey to complete our Panch Tirth Yatra. Our first stop was Siddhachalam in New Jersey.
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During our bus ride, everybody enjoyed stavans and stutis from a few different shravaks and shravikas. Everyone on the bus participated in-group singing and had a great time. There was an explanation of what a sangh is, and what a sangh pujan is as well. Also, discussions on the meaning of panch tirth brought out the spirit in each participant. Even a few of the shravaks did sangh pujan.
From Siddhachalam, we visited four more temples in Queens, New York, Caldwell and Cherry Hill in New Jersey and Harrisburgh, PA. Our reception from the all sanghs was cordial and warm at each of the Temples. These three days provided great opportunity for people to forget about daily life and focus on Temples, worship, and bhakti. The children came prepared with their individual or group Stavans and stutis. They actively participated in all programs and were very curious and eager to learn. They enjoyed their first Yatra very much.
The Panch Tirth Yatra was a great success and people were even asking when our next Panch Tirth Yatra would be. Jain society of Pittsburgh elected the following new committee last year in June 2006 for a period of 2 years. President-Bhupendra Kamdar, Vice President-Shirish Shah, Secretary-Ketan Shah, Treasurer-Mahendra Gajarawala, Member-Dipen Shah, Member-Mira Shah, Immediate Past President-Bharat Dalal
Jain Center of Ft. Myers celebrated Mahavir Jayanti on April 1, 2007. All the member of the center participated in the celebration. This event was attended by both Jains and non Jains of Ft. Myers. The children and youth told a story about Mahavir Swami. They displayed the 14 dreams of Thrishla Mata. Smeet Mehta explained each dream. It was followed up with stavans and food. It went very well with enthusiastic participation from kids and adults.
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