New Building

Expansion Project
http://www.jaincenterexpansion.com

BHUMI PUJAN

On Monday, February 18th, 2002 at 12:39 PM, our Jain Center embarked on a very ambitious Expansion Project. Bhumi Pujan (Ground Breaking) ceremony was performed in presence of almost 800 members and dignitaries. Some of the invited guests included the Mayor of Buena Park, members of the Planning Commission of City of Buena Park and Candidate for the State Assembly from Artesia. Also in attendance were Consultants who have been working on this project namely Mr. Arun Phadnis, Jitu Mehta and Vaikunth Patel.

The Expansion Project, when completed will be a center of pilgrimage for the Jains from all around the world. We expect our new center to be an attraction for non-Jains alike. People from everywhere will visit our Temple, just like we visit various religious places in India. This will be a center where our children and their children will learn, practice and promote essence of Jainism.

Bhumi Pujan ceremony started with Snatra Pooja followed by a warm welcome by the President, Dr. Nitin Shah and by our Ex-President Mr. Sumati Shah. Mr. Chandrakant Parekh, who was deeply involved in the construction of the present Temple from its inception, took us down the memory lane and presented how far we have arrived in last 14 years. There after, Mr. Mahendra Desai presented details of the New Building including the blue prints, artist's renderings, architectural details, size etc. The new Jain Center will be one of a kind and probably the largest Jain Center in the USA.

Mr. Chandrakant Mehta, a Jain scholar and a retired engineer from New Jersey, gave a very emotional and motivational speech for supporting the Expansion Project. He wished us well for the timely completion of such an important project.

The Mayor of Buena Park, Ms. Patsy Marshall, gave a very warm speech and presented a Certificate of Congratulations to Mr. Sumati Shah and a "Key" to the City Hall to Dr. Nitin Shah on behalf of the Jain Center. Ms. Marshall cheered us by saying "Jai Jinendra" and at that moment the entire audience knew that we would always have her support for this worthy cause.

Around noon time, 108 girls and women carrying beautiful "Kumbh" led a colorful procession from the Temple to the adjacent lot to begin the Bhumi Pujan Ceremony. During the procession everyone chanted Navkar Mantra and other religious prayers.

Mr. Chandrakant Mehta and Mrs. Pravina Mehta conducted the elaborate Bhumi Pujan vidhi, which included purification in ten directions, invitation to nine Grahas and a prayer to Ashtamangal.

The Bhumi Pujan vidhi was performed by the family members of Mr. Shashikant & Renuka Jogani, Mr. Nilesh & Krina Shah and Mr. Rajesh & Neeta Shah. After the Bhumi was blessed and purified, at exactly 12:39 PM, the ground breaking took place signifying a start of the new dimension for our Jain Center. Several members sang devotional songs and stavans during the ceremony. Bhumi Pujan was followed by a Swamivatsaly lunch, sponsored by the same three families who performed the Bhumi Pujan ceremony.

The Board of Directors of the Jain Center would like to thank all the people who participated in this event and made it successful. Many people worked very hard to prepare for this event including but not limited to decorating the Temple, preparing all the Kumbhs, inviting dignitaries and the list goes on.

The enormous task of building the new center has just begun. Each and every member of the Jain Community is requested to support this Expansion Project by donating their time, money and energy. More details about additional fund raising requirements will be made available very soon. We all are counting on your continued support. We all can be proud of the legacy that we will leave behind. Thank you.

Please click on the following link to see the pictures:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jaincenter_sc/

Select the PHOTOS and then BHUMI PUJAN links.
To enlarge any picture, click on the thumbnail picture.
To download a picture just Right Click and then select "Save As..."

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GENERAL APPEAL
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As we embark on this ambitious and very important project, we will need help from every member of the Jain Community. In order to begin the construction of the new center, JCSC needs an interest free or low interest loan from its members to reduce the overall cost of construction. This loan will be paid back through vouchers after one year or longer as donations are received over time.
For more information, please contact Mr. Manilal Mehta at 714-898-3156 or Mr. Yogesh Shah at 714-283-2232.

JCSC Board and the Finance Committee sincerely apeals to everyone to support this worthy cause in every way they can. Your continued support will ensure that our dream will come true and will have our new center built in time for 2004 Paryushana.

Jai Jinendra.