 |  | |  Jai Jinendra!
In response to numerous requests from Jain Community, the JAINA Convention Board is offering, for a limited time only, a special ‘two-day’ convention registration. Until the May 31st, you can take advantage of the opportunity to register for either Saturday & Sunday (July 1 & 2) or Sunday & Monday (July 2 & 3) for only $199 (adults) and $149 (youths 6-17 years of age). The $299 regular rate for adults and $199 for youths for a full ‘five-day’ registration remains the best offer.
To Register visit Sincerely, GUNVANT SHAH
Convener, JAINA Convention 2017
| | SADHVI SHRI SHILAPIJI  Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji is a dynamic leader striving to make compassionate change in the world. People who meet her or attend her lectures are highly inspired by her motivational ideas. She is blessed with a tremendous ability to help people transform their lives by learning to know their own inner strengths and act on them. She delivers pragmatic advice, embedded in ancient teachings, yet applicable for the modern lifestyle.
Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji is in charge of Veerayatan in Kutch, with the blessings of her guru Acharya Shri Chandanaji and pioneered the revamping of education in this backward region. Her dynamism and progressive thoughts are well-reflected in the endeavors of Veerayatan in Kutch. Veerayatan has established schools for primary and secondary education and various vocational training centers. With her strong leadership skills coupled with a flow of positive energy, in a short span of fifteen years many educational institutions have been set up with world class Pharmacy, Engineering and Management colleges. At present, thousands of children receive either free or highly subsidized education at Veerayatan, Kutch.The college students receive excellent academic education with unique moral and spiritual values.
Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji will highlight Veeraytan’s rehabilitation work in Nepal after the 2015 devastating earthquake that ravaged much of the country. She will also demonstrate the amazing memory power of 8-year- old student Sabin Chepang from the Veerayatan’s school in Nepal. Sabin has worked hard under the spiritual guidance of Pujya Acharyashri Chandanaji to integrate his exceptional memory with legendary mnemonic skills. Sabin has memorized the complete TATVART SUTRA Jainism philosophy in 350 sutras over 10 chapters and can present them in any order or sequence, all from memory.
| | SOLO BHARATNATYAM DANCE  Ayushi Haria is a multi-talented and versatile youth of Chester Springs, PA and is doing Bharatnatyam from the age of 8 years and she just completed last summer her Aarangetram at age of 15. She has to her credit various dances at various programs such as Natyaswara annual recitals, school musicals, Diwali parties, weddings, cultural programs and Fundraising events. Ayushi does not only excel in dance but is also a meritorious student at STEM Academy and excels at school with straight A’s.
 She is going to perform a solo Bharatnayam dance depicting an event in the life of Bhagwan Mahavir. Bhagwan Mahavir was a prince by birth. But at the age of thirty, he left his family and royal household and gave up his worldly possessions, to become a monk in search of a solution to eliminate pain, sorrow, and sufferings. This dance drama depicts the rigorous harassment that Sangam Dev did on Bhagwan Mahavir and how Bhagwan Mahavir remained calm, merely showing his compassion towards Sangam Dev. Sangam Dev used upsurges like sandstorm, deadly insects and birds, cobra, wild elephants and a beautiful maiden to break Bhagwan Mahavir’s meditation. In the end, Sangam Dev realized his mistake and asked for forgiveness. Bhagwan Mahavir, as usual was compassionate towards Sangam Dev and forgave him. Ayushi, using different mudras and enacting different characters in the scene will depict the entire event in her performance.
| | JIYO JEE BHAR KE!  JAINA Convention board has organized few mesmerizing and thought provoking programs for the Evenings during the convention. They have organized popular play Jiyo Jee Bhar Ke! The synopsis of the play is given below. Human beings are the most intelligent, powerful and evolved species on earth. But they are the most manipulative and insensitive too. This play depicts and explores the inhuman aspects of human beings in a dark and unusual manner.
The entire drama takes place in animal laboratory where the primary characters of the play are animals. One of the animals is Dr. Rat who leads the pack, and then there is Moti the stray dog, Sweetie the pug, Sughndhi the wild cat, MangalMaharaj, Bhondu the pig& Chottu the rabbit. They are all so full of life and make a happy little vibrant family. They all dream and have simple aspirations. But, little do they know that not only their dream but their entire existence will be destroyed in this laboratory by a cruel doctor and his assistants.
Animals have their spinal cord broken, they are artificially paralyzed and stroked, their stomachs are cut in pregnancy, and they are injected with AIDS and even burnt alive. This inhumane animal torture is performed in the name of science and research.
The visual imagery and narrative of the play make the viewers uncomfortable, compel them to think and re-look at the things. Although so much is shown, the play never becomes preachy. It celebrates the virtue of Ahimsa, but it never actually talks or preaches about it. It only shows mirror to God's best creation that is "Us", the human beings in a sarcastic way.
| | Apart from 5 days Convention, you can also visit nearby attractions with your family and friends. Some of the key attractions are mentioned below: 1.Siddhachalam(Blairstown,NJ) is the first Jain Tirth located outside of India. Founded in 1983 by Acharya Sushil Kumarji, it is located on a 108-acre site in rural New Jersey. Siddhachalam literally means the abode of liberated souls. Peaceful and Serene Environment, one should not miss the opportunity to visit this wonderful Tirth.
2.Jersey Shore: Famous for its many boardwalks with arcades, water parks, and amusement parks boasting hundreds of rides and attractions. Jersey Shore encompasses about 141 miles of oceanfront from Perth Amboy in the north to Cape May Point in the south.
3.Liberty State Park, with dramatic views of the Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, draws four million guests a year. The park also features trails for hiking, biking, nature walks and fitness and it's the site of spectacular surrounding.
4.Liberty Science Center is an interactive science museum and learning center located in Liberty State Park in Jersey City in Hudson County. It has 4 floors & 12 galleries with hands-on science exhibits plus an IMAX Dome Theater.
5.Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum: You can view original artifacts, listen to 100+ year old Edison Phonographs, and learn about the wonders that took place at Thomas Edison’s historic Menlo Park, which is a memorial to inventor and businessman Thomas Alva Edison, located in the Menlo Park area of Edison, New Jersey.
6.Freedom Tower (NY): is the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City.
7.Empire State Building (NY) is a 102-story skyscraper located on Fifth Avenue in Midtown, Manhattan; Discover the Heart of New York, Their 86th and 102nd floor observatories provide unforgettable 360° views of New York City and beyond. Whether you’re in town for a week or a day, no visit to NYC is complete without experiencing the top of the Empire State Building.
8.Liberty Bell - Philadelphia, The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House (now renamed Independence Hall), the bell today is located in the Liberty Bell Center in Independence National Historical Park.
9.Constitution Hall -Philadelphia, Independence Hall is the building where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted.
Talking more about the Convention, we will have Jain and Vegan food for all 5 days.
Less than 2 months are left and a record-breaking number of registrations have already come through for JAINA Convention 2017. We are confident that you will be taking home life time memories of this Convention.
If you have not registered yet, we recommend not missing out this great opportunity to experience enriching, educational and superbly planned convention by registering today at | | | |
