Jain Spirit 2002 10 No 12

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 13

GLOBAL NEWS
NEW OSHWAL CENTRE OPENS IN NAIROBI
The new Oshwal Centre in Nairobi was officially inaugurated in March 2002, with the festivities spanning nine days, from 23 to 31 March. The objective of the nine-day event was to attract all age groups to the centre, which exists to
help unify the Oshwal community in the preservation of its social, cultural and spiritual heritage.
The festivities began with a party for children aged one to twelve. The children participated in traditional
A cycling race for all ages is flagged off
from the Oshwal Centre Indian games and in a practical lesson on ahimsa, to which their pet animals were invited. The games continued into the second day of the festivities with organised sporting activities for all age groups. Sport was an ongoing theme of the event, with a further two days dedicated to a tournament in which 800 participants competed in 13 different sports.
On the religious front, a four-fold art exhibition was set up: there was a section on Jain principles, a second section comprising large paintings recounting Mahavir's life story, a third consisting of an enormous rangoli depicting the Tirthankaras, and a fourth that displayed a pictorial presentation on Shrimad Rajchandra. In addition, a religious play entitled Shalibadra was performed one evening.
The nine-day event certainly attracted hundreds of visitors, many of whom were present at its finale, when a giant cake depicting the new building was ceremoniously cut, officially declaring the Oshwal Centre open.
Cutting of the giant cake by Oshwal committee members and their chief guests
CELEBRATING THREE people came to the Northwick Park less volunteers from all over the world YEARS OF JAIN SPIRIT
Hotel in North-West London to share in who have helped us come this far, this significant breakthrough. The including writers, artists, photographers,
musicians spent weeks practicing for a printers, readers, marketers, scholars, Jain Spirit celebrated three years of
concert which captured the essence of advisors. fund-raisers and donors. The existence on 22nd June, with an evening
Jain Spirit, combining the past with the publication of Jain Spirit is a communal of spiritual music and singing by present to give a varied and inspiring all effort and we are grateful for the Kaushik, Anuradha and a host of very
round performance. At the event, we continuous support and encouragement talented musicians. Over three hundred remembered and thanked all our self- from everyone. LA SPIRIT JAM SPIROM SPIRHAN SPIRUJAN SPIRIT JAIN SPIRITY Jam Salam SPIRIT JAIN SPIRIT JAM SPIRIT
September - November 2002 . Jain Spirit
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