Jain Spirit 2004 10 No 20

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

Page 86

84 VIEWPOINT
ART
Makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE
NIPUL & RENUKA SHAH
FROM SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA, SHARE THEIR UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
Many of you at one time or other, have been involved with organising a local voluntary event. You all put in a lot of effort, often working long unpaid hours into the night, dealing with bureaucracies, internal differences of opinions, raising finance, finding suitable venues....Lots and lots of headache. And then there are the armchair critics, who are ever ready to give their opinions after the event! I am sure it all sounds familiar. Look back and see what made all that dedication worthwhile. What has been the most memorable part? We believe that people need something they cannot get at home. They want to feel very happy and proud of having been there. The answer lies in various forms of art. We are talking about music, drama, exhibitions, workshops to site a few examples. Adding this ingredient to any occasion makes a big difference to the success and joy of each event. Here are some examples we have been involved with and which have made the events really exceptional. Some of you readers might remember the Temple that was built at the JAINA Convention in Philadelphia in 1999 or the Pavapuri Temple in Chicago 2001. There was a real life-size temple built for each of these conventions. There was a beautiful opening ceremony, and there were poojas, bhajans and a lot of different activities that took place around this temple, or people just came to sit down and enjoy the beauty. This was very different from other conventions where one goes from one lecture to other. People still talk about these temples. Then there was also an opportunity to make your own Mahavir murti (statue) using a special mould and take it home! There were long lines and some people even became impatient waiting for their turns! You should have seen the joy in their hearts, when participants took that murti home. This was repeated in the YJA Convention in Los Angeles in 2002. People want to see a new form of art and take it home to share the joy with others. That makes the event more successful and remembered for a long time.
Take a simple play like Nem Rajul, and give lots of small children a chance to participate. Then give them a nice venue, a good theater and a beautiful stage and don't forget to build a beautiful rath (decorated procession), the focal point of the play. On one occasion, we built a life size horse with an almost real-looking head and with two children in it, one in the head and one in the tail. The horse was dancing to the music! The cart was built using bicycle tires and brought in through the audience with all the fanfare of a marriage party. People still talk about that play, some ten years later. That becomes a very special memory and lasts for a lifetime. And that makes it all worth the effort.
Take rangoli for instance - make a beautiful painting on the floor at the entrance, with some diwas. That would make your event extra special and more memorable. It will also build community bondage within the organising committee who do the rangoli. That is also very important. For this I cannot forget the great contribution that the late Mrs. Pushpa Haria from Mombasa made for the community, using her artistic talent. Spice up your event by adding some art to the mix. Experience the masala!
Photo: James Maturin - Baird
Dr. Nipul and Renuka Shah are well known throughout North America for their creative spirits.