Jain Digest 2009 03 Vol 28 No 1

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

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members participated in the Anjan-Shalaka ceremony at KULPAKJI.
JCNJ has had a very eventful year for 2008. It began the year with the Mahavir Janma Kalyanak celebration. Pathshala students worked very hard under their parent's guidance and performed different dances, drama and songs on Bhagvaan Mahavir's life. Program highlights were televised twice on TV ASIA and a write-up was published in Gujarat Darpan. They also had many visiting scholars like Dhirubhai Pandit, Tarlaben Doshi, Shrutprajnaji, Dr Falguniben Zaveri, Sameerbhai Shah, Ashwini Prajnaji, Pravinbhai Sanghavi, Punamchandbhai Vakil, and Diptiben Jhaveri, who taught Jain philosophy/Religion in detail to the Sangh. These scholars provided a rich opportunity for JCNJ members to enhance the knowledge about Jainism.
There were nearly 125 members who participated in the Ayambil during Oli. Narendrabhai Nandu and his musical team conducted Bhaktamar Poojan on 12th July. JCNJ members were very supportive and took part in different Gatha of Bhaktamar Stotra. Paryushan Parva was celebrated under the guidance of Diptiben Jhaveri. This year JCNJ had nearly 60
Tapasvies including one MAS KHAMAN (30 days
of fasting). During Swapna Darshan, JCNJ received a great response from members and had a total record breaking ghee boli of approx. $94,000. AKHAND JAAP of 12 hours was conducted on Diwali night. About 275 members took labh of Gautam Swami Jaap and Manglik on New Years day.
Narendrabhai Shah from Ahmadabad, India performed the Utthapan Vidhi of all three (3) Pratimaji on 8th Nov. 2008. After Utthapan, all three Pratimaji were taken to Dr. Prakashbhai Doshi's residence, 213 River Road, East Hanover NJ 07936. Jirnodhar work has begun from 1st Dec and will continue for a few months. In the meantime all activities will continue as usual in different locations as announced.
In recent JCNJ election, Chandrakant (Pravina) Mehta, Hamir (Nina) Vadi, & Kirit (Renuka) Shah were elected on Board of Trustee (BOT) for four years term beginning Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2012. Ashok (Rekha) Shah; Nitin Jasmine) Talsania, & Vinay (Vimla) Vakani will continue as BOT member until Dec. 2010. The following members were elected for Executive Committee (EC) for two years term beginning Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2010: Dinesh (Heena) Chheda, Usha (Deepak) Gandhi, Madhu (Rajni) Kamdar, Kirit (Kaushika) Mehta, Anil (Hemlata) Shah, Himanshu (Priti) Shah, Ketan (Neha) Shah, Manish (Neepa) Shah, Mukesh (Saroj) Shah, Rashmi (Darshna) Shah,
Jain Digest Winter 2009
Phase one construction of the Derasar will begin in the spring of 2009. For more information visit www.jaincenternj.org.
Subodh Jyoti) Shah Yogesh Jyoti) Shah & Jayant (Kundan) Sheth.
Please contact: Kirit Mehta President, JCNJ kkmehta@ hotmail.com; or Chandrakant Mehta Chairman, JCNJ cbmehta2002@yahoo.com for more details.
WEST
Brief History of Jain Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
Center of
It was sometime in 1995 when Acharya Chitrabhanuji visited Las Vegas and the idea of bringing the Jain families of Las Vegas together, was born. It was his inspiration that promoted the vision of having a Jain temple in the town. Later on a meeting of Jain families was organized at the residence of Dr. Jaldeep Daulat where the video on the life and teaching of Bhagwan Mahaveer was shown. One of the attendee of the meeting, Dr. Bhagwan Singh, emphasized the need of having a regular meeting of all the Jain families once a month to have religious discourse on Jainism and educate the young generation on the teachings of Mahaveer Swami. Accordingly, the Jain families of Las Vegas started meeting regularly on a rotational basis at their residences to conduct religious discussion on the principles of Jainism. Prior to the visit of Chitrabhanuji, the idea of having a Hindu Temple had already taken shape. In 1991, Drs. Dipak and Kusum Desai, Ranjit and Renu Jain, and Dr. Jaldeep and Nita Daulat had contributed a large sum to purchase a land in the Summerlin area of Las Vegas. They are the founders of the Hindu Society of Nevada under whose auspices the Hindu-Jain Temple is built.
One of the prominent Jain families of Las Vegas, the Gandhi family is the pioneer in inviting the renowned
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