JAINA Newsletter

JAINA: Federation of Jain Associations in North America

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I find the JAINA Conventions as one of the most energizing and invigorating events in my life.  Being in the sea of 3000 Jains, scholars, monks, shramnijis, and of course family - it's perfect dose to strengthen my faith and Jain Way of Life core.  It's three days of worry free life immersed in excellent food, family, friends, world class evening entertainment programs and of course over 50 Jainism and Jain Way of Life session by experts. Seeing youths hang out in the hotel lobby till 2:00 am - I know that they are making life time friendships.  I know of many families that have never missed a convention. It is their biennial family vacation and spiritual retreat in one.  Now that I have recovered from this one - I wonder where the next convention will be? I can hardly wait!
Editor: , JAINA VP-NE/Chairman Long Range Planning Committee

JAINA's New Executive Committee
A new JAINA Executive Committee was elected at the JAINA 2011 Houston convention.  The new team includes: Dr. Sushil Jain President, Mr. Prem Jain First VP, Mr. Ashok Domadia Secretary, Mr. Dipak Doshi Treasurer, Mr. Yogendra Jain VP North East, Mr. Haresh Shah VP Mid East, Dr. Deepika Dalal South East, Mr. Uday Jain VP South West, Dr. Manish Mehta  VP Mid West, Mr. Rajen Dhami VP West, and Mrs. Lata Champsee Past President. Click here for background information on the new team.   The new team will soon be sharing its goals for the next two years.  If you have any feedback or would like to be volunteer for various exciting projects, please contact JAINA's EC at:  .  

Printed Version of JAINA Digest - Did You Get One?

Last month over 9000 printed versions of JAINA Digest were sent?  Did you get one?  If not, please send an email to to get your copy.  Please give your name, address, and email.  We will ship these to you FREE of cost.

Watch on TV - Highlights of JAINA Convention

Highlights of the JAINA Convention will be airing on TV Asia - Community Roundup program on July 11th at 10:30pm (ET) and repeated broadcast on July 12th at 7:30pm (ET).
 Event: 16th Annual Biennial JAINA Convention.

JAINA 16th Biennial Convention in Houston - A Huge Success

July 4th, 2011 - Over 2800 Jains attended the 16th Biennial JAINA Convention in Houston.  JAINA, founded in 1983,  is a federation of over 80 North American Jain Centers.  The event was held at the George Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX from July 1st to July 4th.   The conference theme was "Live and Help Live." 

The events started on Friday with blessings from the many scholars, monks, and nuns followed by dinner and then Gandhi Before Gandhi drama, and Raas Garbha.  The drama, Gandhi Before Gandhi was a tribute to Veerchand R. Gandhi, a Jain scholar.  Mohandas K. Gandhi lived with VR Gandhi for several years and during those times MK Gandhi learned much about Jainism and Non-Violence as a philosophy and practice.

After late evening of Raas Garbha, the next morning started with sessions on Yoga, Medication, and Pratikraman (meaning going back to path of purification).  A beautiful temporary temple was built with two muftis (idols) which was officially opened for prayers.  Then a  grand procession took place in the large hallways of the convention center with each Jain Sangh carrying their flag.  The convention was officially inaugurated by lighting of the candles (see photos) by Lata Champsee, D.R.Mehta, Sushil Jain, and Dr. Neal Barnard, Udai Jain, and other sanghpati s. In the afternoon, many parallel session took place including lectures on Basic principles of Jain Dharma, Community Service, ABCD on Entrepreneurship, Yoga for Seniors, Jain Way of Entrepreneurship, Practicing Ecology in Daily Life, Jainism and Sustainability, Social Challenges for Seniors, Animal Rights, Vegan Diet and more. With so many parallel sessions, the attendees were often torn between their desire to attend multiple sessions in the same time slots.  The evening entertainment program included a beautiful stage program called "Swagatam" by Jain Society of Houston and cultural programs by various US Jain Centers.

In parallel to these programs, youths were also  having their programs which included Jainism 101, Jain Networking Forum, Government Activism, Comparative World Religion, Easy Jain Cooking, and more.  In the evening, Jain Networking Forum had dinner and social evening and mixer. Such networking events in the past conventions have led to many marriages.

In addition to the sessions, first time at the JAINA convention were displays of "Innovative Jain Projects in North America."  Over 40 project posters described how Jains are channeling their energy in Living and Sharing a Jain Way of Life. Projects included Jain Mentorship Program, New Brochures on JAINA and JAINISM, Jain Way of Life Handbook - Guide to Compassionate Happy and Health Living, Jain Food Book, Pathshala Material (Sunday School), Humanitarian Projects, Mangalam Jain TV Show, JAINA Interfaith Activities, Overcoming Fundamentalism, Boy Scouts of America, Jain Religion Emblem Awards Program.  This event was co-sponsored by Jain Center of Greater Boston.

The Sunday activities were similar to Saturday activities including many new sessions.  Topics included Significance of Pooja, Doctrine of Karma, Jain Way of Running a Business, Academic Studies and Strategies for Growth, Preventing Heart Diseases, Significance of Charity and more.  Following dinner, the evening entertainment was highlight of the conference.  An award ceremony took place in the evening where Girish Shah of San Francisco was awarded the JAINA Ratna Award for his 30 years of contribution to Jainsim, JAINA, and his local Jain Sangh.  Additionally, JANA Recognition Awards were presented to Hasendra Shah CA, Mukesh Doshi IL,  Padma Shah CA, Paresh Shah VA, Ramesh Doshi Amdavad India, Sunil Jain IL, Yogesh Shah CA, Ajay Dagli MI, Hemang Srikishan IL, Kritka Jain, CA, Saahil Jain CA, Shardule Shah MA.  JAINA Presidential Award were given to Jain Center of Southern California, Institute of Jainology, D.R. Mehta from India, Hasmukh Shah, Shantilal Mutha from Pune India, The 2800 people were entertained past midnight by Jains Got Talent and concert by Indian Idols Bhoomi Trivedi and Sreeram Chandra.  

Such a large event was made possible by many contributors including Sanghpatis, Shri Udai Jain & Sushila Jain, Rajeev & Nita Daga, Dr. Rajniben & Dinesh Lakhia, and Nimmi and Mukesh Amritlal Turakhia.

The convention board team and over 100 volunteers from Houston and other centers worked over a year to make this event possible.  The Convention Board members include Dr. Sushil Jain Convener, Udai Jain  Co-Convener, Himanshu Ajmera, Co-Convener, Lata Champsee, Ashish Bhandari, Dr. Nitin Shah, Dipak Doshi, Dr. Manoj Dharmasi, Riddhi Desai, Jainesh Mehta and Arpan Shah.  The host center was Jain Society of Houston.

The convention came to a close on Monday with the closing ceremonies and blessings from the monks and nuns. 
 
For more information and photos of the convention, please visit www.JAINA.org.  

For comments and contribution, please email [email protected]