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I had the occasion to visit the temple, perform Pooja along with the members and had exchange of views with them. In the course of my address to them I came to know that Jains of Toronto have been making steady efforts for the Center as a big religious and social place. The Society warmly receives the visitors from India and other countries.
The Jain activities are also well developed in the United Kingdom with London and Leicester as focal points, It is estimated that about 25000 Jains reside in London alone. Many of them are big businessmen having their big establishments in Africa, India, Bangladesh and other countries. A large number of engineers, doctors and Chartered Accountants are also well established in U.K. Jain Association of U.K. and Europe Jain Samaj are the two more important bodies of the Jains. In Leicester, which is about 160 Kms. from London, a beautiful Jain temple has been built by the Jain Samaj, Europe from hand carved Rajasthan stone weighing about 250 tons. Images of Tirhankaras, Parsvanath and Mahavir, duly consecreted in India, were installed with full religious ceremonies. The speciality of this temple is that it provides religious facilities for all the three sects, separate temple for Digamber and Swetambar Jains and Sthanak for Sthanakvasis. From the Jain activites point of view, Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is also very important. It is estimated that 12000-15000 Jains reside in Nairobi alone besides a fairly large number living in Mombasa and the other towns of Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania etc. There are two big Jain temples at Nairobi which are visited by a large number of devotees. The two temples draw a large number of visitors also from India and other countries.
Kobe in Japan is famous world over for the pearl trade. Some Jain families havc a big pearl business there. They are very affluent persons. As a result of their liberal donations and sincere efforts a big Jain temple has been built in Kobe. Because of their hard working nature and expertise in running their business some of the Jains settled in different countries have expanded their business considerably and possess very big wealth. A good numberof Jains in Belgium, kenya, Kobe in Japan, U.K. and USA now possess big material resources. The Mehtas in Belgium have become fabulously rich from their diamond trade. The family of late Shri Ramlal Golechha has made big fortune in Nepal. Shri Ramlal Golechha owned several mills in Nepal, now managed by his sons and received personal honour from King of Nepal. The Jain associations in Nepal are active in religious and social work.
The Jains living abroad know how to earn money. They also know how to spend it well. Some of them have used their money in philanthropic work especially in social, educational and religious fields.
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