Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living programme, and yoga guru Swami Ramdev are scheduled to speak at the 14th biennial JAINA Convention from July 5-8 at Edison in New Jersey.
JAINA is an umbrella body of over 60 Jain organisations representing more than 150,000 Jains living in the US and Canada. Over 5,000 people are expected to attend the convention.
The overall theme of the convention is 'Peace Through Dialogue'. The themes of over 60 sessions include non-violence, peace, anekantavad (non-absolutism), meditation, Jainism and science and Jain perspectives on management and leadership.
Featured speakers include Chitrabhanu, the founder of the Jain Meditation International Center in New York, jurist LM Singhvi and Maryland congressman Steny Hoyer.
Entertainment programmes planned for the convention include 'Meera! A music narration', 'Samovasaran'- a musical drama on the last sermon of Lord Mahavir, and a play on the life of Rishabhdev, the first Jain Tirthankar.
Programmes like evening garba and Bollywood karaoke will be held for the young.
JAINA was started in 1981 to preserve, practice and promote Jainism with the blessings of Chitrabhanu and late Acharya Sushil Kumar, founder of Jain centre Siddhachalam in Blairstown, New Jersey. The two had created a sensation in the early 1970s when they travelled to the US, defying their religion's edict against monks using vehicles.
{{/usCountry}}JAINA was started in 1981 to preserve, practice and promote Jainism with the blessings of Chitrabhanu and late Acharya Sushil Kumar, founder of Jain centre Siddhachalam in Blairstown, New Jersey. The two had created a sensation in the early 1970s when they travelled to the US, defying their religion's edict against monks using vehicles.
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