North American Jains will celebrate Jain Religion in the 21st Century

Los Angeles – October 13, 2018 – The Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA) is hosting its 20th biennial convention from July 4 to 7, 2019, at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California, located 40 miles east of Los Angeles. Thousands of Jains are expected to participate in and celebrate the “Jain Religion in the 21st Century”.

Convention Convener and First Vice President of JAINA, Mr. Mahesh Wadher of California, emphatically announced that the discussion tracks planned at this Convention, will offer attendees a deeper understanding of the Jain principles and values and provide a roadmap for seamlessly integrating them into our daily lifestyle. Renewing our commitment to the practice of essential values of non-violence [Ahimsa], multiplicity of viewpoints [Anekantavada], and non-possessiveness [Aparigraha] will bring a balance in everything we do. Focused programs for all age groups are planned, including but not limiting to: children (ages 5-12), youth (ages 13-20), Jain Networking Forum (ages 21-29), and adults.

Jainism is a religion and a way of life for Jains around the world. The primary purpose of JAINA is: to increase awareness of the principles of the Jain Dharma, to unite all Jains, to provide a platform to project the Jain Voice, to promote the feeling of amity and brotherhood among Jains and to encourage interfaith understanding of Jain Dharma. Most discernibly, it is observed to have influenced world peace.

Public Relations and Media Committee Chairman, Mr. Dipak Doshi of Chicago confirmed that distinguished keynote speakers including President Barack Obama, His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Sri Ravi Shankar, President Bill Clinton, Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijaybhai Rupani and Guru Shri Jaggi Vasudev, have been invited. Yogi Baba Ramdev has also been invited to present Yoga techniques for well-being and restorative health lessons, besides blessing the attendees with his gracious presence. The featured highlights of this convention include: sessions and discourses in six parallel tracks led by more than 80 distinguished speakers, exhibits and an expo, and cultural programs comprising of a musical evening of raas-garba [traditional Indian folk dancing], an entertaining drama, and daily opportunities for yoga and meditation.

Convention Co-Conveners, Dr. Jasvant Modi and Dr. Nitin Shah state that the registration response is overwhelming with more than 1,500 registrants within the first week. Dr. Modi further expressed his confidence in the team of more than 300 volunteers, which will be diligently working to design this convention’s success and to ensure it is memorable for every attendee. The convention will communicate ways to achieve peace and adopt non-violence through personal empowerment as well as by creating vibrations that bring communities together. Jain scholars: Gurudev Rakeshbhai Jhaveri, Acharya Shree Lokesh Muni, Acharya Chandanaji, and Sadvhi Sanghamitraji will also share their wisdom at the Convention and showcase the significance of embracing harmony and spreading the message of peace through our life’s journey.

Since opening the registration on September 2, already 1,700 attendees have registered for the convention. Over 1,000 registered in the first 48 hours of opening of the registration. The registration is open to all and can be made at any time through the convention website.

For additional information about this convention, please visit us online at: www.jainaconvention.org

For Further Information, please contact: Mr. Dipak Doshi, Chair of Public Relations and Media Committee of 2019 JAINA Convention at dipakginni@gmail.com or Co-Chairs, Mr. Hemant Shah at hemantil@yahoo.com or Dr. Manoj Jain at mjainmd1@gmail.com.

About JAINA

Founded in 1981, JAINA is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization. JAINA (www.jaina.org) is the umbrella organization of 70+ North American centers / temples in the USA and Canada. Operated by a staff of hundreds of volunteers, it functions as a philanthropic, educational, and service-focused organization. JAINA is certified by USAID as a non-governmental humanitarian organization and was awarded Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations in 2006. Its member Jain Centers routinely organize free wellness clinics, hold classes on healthy lifestyles, conflictresolution, inter-cultural dialogues, volunteering at animal shelters, food banks and homeless shelters, and partnering with civic groups such as Habitat for Humanity, the Humane Society, Rotary, Lions and Boy/Girl Scouts. JAINA partners globally with humanitarian organizations to render disaster relief, medical aid, polio eradication, restorative limb camps, as well as organizing annual Legislative Conferences on Peace, Harmony and Non-Violence on Capitol Hill.

About JAINISM

For thousands of years, Jains have believed in meditation, yoga, compassion for animals, vegetarianism, environmentalism, equal rights for women, respect for other cultures and forgiveness, among other virtues. Lord Mahavir, born in 599 BC in Bihar, India, is stated to be the last known perfect Jain soul to have attained “Nirvana”. Jainism emphasizes non-violence by encouraging amity, compassion, appreciation, and equanimity. The three jewels of Jainism are – Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct. It emphasizes the equality of both sexes and respect for all life forms. It encourages kindness and tolerance for multiple points of view, some of which may even appear to be contrary to other. The convention will highlight these topics along with devotion, compassion, and transformation and create opportunities for dialogues on global issues and the role that Jainism can play in mitigating them.