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The YJ Calendar
By the Current Committee Members
fter 20 years, YJ is still going strong and the momentum is kept alive by regular events and fixtures in the YJ calendar. Here, the current committee members describe the YJ take on Jainism and its enduring appeal...
SHIBIRS
Young Jains offers annual residential retreats for its members, active and
volunteers
Executive and NonExecutive committee members. YJ also host one-day shibirs for smaller groups and students.
The residential retreats are a time to step back from the hectic of daily life. It is a time to take 3 steps back, breath the fresh air of the countryside venues, do plenty of outdoor activities and spend quality structured time learning about Jainism in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. For a full report on shibirs, see article by Priya Kothari on pages 50-51. Above: Learning not to attach labels to the body!
SWEET HARMONY
Over the past many years, Sweet Harmony has vibrated the energy munchkins of creativity in the young and less young. The event called Sweet Harmony was first created within the walls of Jatin Shah's home where a need for stavans and singing was fed. From the 20 or so people who attended, the numbers grew and grew with the ever increasing popularity of the lead-and-follow style. From a Kenton home, it moved onto the current base of Young Jains, Canon High School. A monthly Monday session of music and rhythm in a peaceful and tranquil environment, Sweet Harmony can let your vocal chords experience the creative talents within you through music and song.
So what's so good about Sweet Harmony? Well, Sweet Harmony has enthused and uplifted many people throughout its time, and continues to nourish and feed the culture and bhakti within all types of souls. Bhakti plays an important part in our lives.
Jain Education International
If you have never sung, then this is a great way to learn in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere. Stavan
sheets are in English and Gujarati. Meanings are explained and musical hints are provided by the talented group leading the evening.
The Sweet Harmony Team would love to see you and sing with you. Through these events, you can also celebrate a special occasion with your family and friends, in a friendly atmosphere you can even dedicate that evening to loved ones. Bring your family and friends to join and celebrate your occasion through music and song.
MJK
Mahavir Janma Kalyanak (MJK), celebrated in March/April, is a very special festival for Jains. Christians celebrate Christmas because that is when their saviour Jesus Christ was born. In this way, Jains celebrate MJK because that is when our inspirer, Mahavir Bhagwan, was born. Mahavir Janma Kalyanak is a time to look over Mahavir Bhagwan's lives. There is so much to learn from the stories of Mahavir Bhagwan. These true stories allow us to reflect on the mistakes he made when he was deluded and believed he was the body and not the soul, and when he overcame his passions and revealed that he is actually the soul.
A Young Jains MJK event will portray Mahavir Bhagwan's lives in a truly Young Jains style, complete with skits and musical interludes. It has all the ingredients of a perfect birthday party, with Mahavir Bhagwan's lives presented in a way that is easy to understand, but also fun and comical. This event allows our Young Jains volunteers to show off their talents in a comfortable setting. It is a fun evening for the whole family and is one of the events that Young Jains will always be well known for.
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