Jains or the followers of Jainism do not fall into one single community. There are Jains whose background and cultural differences are so great that to put them all in one compartment may do injustice to them. However for our purpose of identifying and knowing about the Jains in the U.K. we will refer to them as the Jain community. Jains living in the U.K. have come from India and many African countries. Those who have arrived here from African countries are also from Indian origin and have migrated here after the independence and some upheavals in the domiciled countries.
Population
There are approximately 25 to 30,000 Jains living here in the U.K. Majority of them are living in Greater London area. Some 75 to 80 percent of total Jains here have come from East Africa (Like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania); some have come here from Aden (Yemen) and something like 20% have directly come from India. Majority of all Jains here are Shvetambara Jains (Jains are by and large are either Shvetambaras or Digambaras. Monks in Shvetambara sect wear white clothing whereas monks of Digambara sect go ‘sky-clad’)Again in Shvetambara Jains we find some Jains who believe in Temples and idols whereas some Jains do not believe in temples.
Language
As regards Languages, most of the Jains living here have their roots in the state of Gujarat in India. Therefore the language they speak in their homes is Gujarati. There are about 10% other Jains whose language is either Marwari, Hindi or Punjabi. The new generation born and brought up in this country speak poor Gujarati (or Hindi or other languages) which is a worrying, factor for many devout Jains.
Festival
There are two main festivals:
- Mahavir Jayanti- All Jains celebrate the birthday of Bhagvan Mahavir (A last and 24th Ford-maker, enlightened one 599-527BCE). This event falls in late march or early April.
- Paryushana- Eight to ten-day celebrations of religious activities. This festival falls during the end of August or early part of September.
Places To Visit
- Jain Centre, 32 Oxford Street, Leicester. (A temple and an auditorium)
- Oshwal Centre, Northaw, near Potters Bar (A large auditorium and a house-temple.)
- Mahavir Foundation Centre, Kenton, Middlesex (A House-temple)
- Digambara Centre, Harrow, Middlesex. (A temple)
All the above places have Jain images (idols) for worship and darshan. There are other places where one can see Jain idols. Hindu Mandir in Leeds and a Jalaram Mandir in Feltham have installed idols of Jain tirthankaras too. Similarly a large Hindu temple in Ealing Road, Wembley will also have an idol of a Jain tirthankara. Jain Samaj- Manchester has bought a large property and is in the process of building a community centre and a small temple.
Jain writers in the U.K.
» Dr. Peter Flugel
» Dr. Natubhai Shah
» Paul Marett
» Paul Dundas
» Dr Vinod Kapashi
Jain Magazines
‘Jain Spirit’ published from Colchester in Essex is a glossy publication with good informative articles.
Organisations
Largest Organisation is the Oshwal Association of the U.K with the membership of about 5000 families. Next comes Navnat Vanik Association with membership of about 1100 families. Navnat’s membership is not confined to Jains only. It is a caste based organisation and all its members are Vaniks. Some Vaniks are not Jains but they are Hindus and therefore Navnat’s membership has a minority of non-Jains too. (Vanik means merchant, business person.).Jain Samaj Europe is another organisation which is based in Leicester with a temple and a community centre situated at Oxford Street. Mahavir Foundation based in Kenton, Harrow, Middlesex was founded about 14 years ago and wishes to establish a temple for people living in and around Harrow area. Veeryatan U.K. is actively involved in charitable work. Veerayatan is also involved in highly acclaimed educational activities in the U.K. ‘Young Jains’ is an organisation which has made a significant mark in promoting Jain values in younger generation.
Some of the other notable organisations actively promoting Jain values
- Institute of Jainology
- Jain Sangha, Europe
- Navyug Jain Pragati Mandal
- Vanik Association
- Digambar Jain Association
- Jain Association U.K.
- Jain Sangha- East London etc.
- Jain Samaj Manchester
- London branch of Jain Vishva Bharati.