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Chapter 31. Religious Activities
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met Kachra Narshi Sumaria Shah and he heard Khimchandbhai discussing the topic on Jain religion and got interested in it. They started meeting regularly for lectures by Khimjibhai at first at Kachrabhai house and then in a room in Jainshala till 1963. Torchbearer Khimchandbhai initiated the formation of Shri Sanatan Digamber Jain Mandal in Nairobi, the first ever in any foreign country. Later on the name of the association officially was changed to Shri Digamber Mumukshu Mandal, Nairobi, Kenya. Fulchand Karamshi Shah was elected as the mandal's first president.
The land for a hall and the temple was bought on Kolobot Road, Ngara Area in Nairobi. Ramji Devraj Shah performed the foundation laying ceremony for the swadhyay hall on January 5, 1964. Fulchand Karamshi Shah performed the opening ceremony of swadhyay hall on August 30 1964. All the official activities were moved to the hall from the Jainshala.
A decision to build a domed temple was under consideration. Raichand Devan Shah performed the foundation-laying ceremony of the temple on June 17 1978. When temple was completed, a weeklong celebration with Installation Ceremony of the images (Pratistha Mahotsav) was officially held from, January 11, to January 19, 1980, in presence of the Shri Gurudev Kanji Swami. The Laxmichand Keshavji Shah family installed the image of Lord Mahavir Swami as the principal deity (Mulnayak) in the middle. The Jethalal Devraj Shah and Hansraj Devraj Shah families installed the image of Lord Parshvanath on the right side of Mulnayak. The Zaverchand Punamchand Shah family installed the image of Lord Shantinath on the left side of Mulnayak. The Bharmal Vagji Haria family installed the image of Lord Simandhar Swami in the dome.
All together there are seven images in the temple. Five images are made of marble. (The image of Mahavir
