JSMW Announces Pratishtha of its New Temple on May 31 – June 1, 2025
The Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington (JSMW) recently announced the much-anticipated Pratishtha of its new Jain temple. This landmark event marks a significant spiritual milestone for the Jain community in the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia region and will take place on May 31 and June 1, 2025 in Beltsville, Maryland – realizing a vision that began in 2010.
“This state-of-the-art temple is designed to honor and unite all Jain sects, Shwetambar, Digambar, and Sthanakwasi, emphasizing the unity and diversity of Jainism,” said Vishal Mehta, President of JSMW. “The temple’s Moolnayak idols include Shri Sankeshwar Parshwanath Bhagwan for the Shwetambar sect and Shri Adinath Bhagwan for the Digambar sect, along with a dedicated meditation and prayer space for the Sthanakwasi sect, honoring their tradition of non-idol worship.”
Image: Artist rendering of the religious areas within the Temple
Sharing details about the grand celebrations, Rahul Jain, JSMW Director of Public Relations, stated, “The festivities begin with the Utthapan & Varghodo ceremony on May 23, 2025, followed by pre-Pratishtha rituals from May 24 to May 30. The Pratishtha Mahotsav, on May 31 and June 1, 2025, will culminate in a weekend of religious events, bringing our community together in devotion, gratitude, and celebration.”
Image: Artist rendering of the New Jain Temple (Elevation View)
“This temple stands as a testament to the dedication and unity of our community,” said Dr. Gita Shah, Chairperson of JSMW’s Board of Trustees. “It reflects Jain values of compassion, peace, and inclusivity while providing a spiritual sanctuary for generations to come.”
Beyond being a center for spiritual activities, the temple will serve as the home of JSMW’s Pathshala, “where children learn to integrate Jain values such as ahimsa (non-violence), anekantvad (acceptance of multiple perspectives), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness) into their lives,” said Monica Shah, Director of Education.
Image: Artist rendering of the New Jain Temple (Side View)
JSMW Vice President, Sandeep Mehta, welcomed the entire community and said, “JSMW warmly invites the entire community to join these once-in-a-lifetime celebrations and participate in this spiritual journey. Further details, including event schedules and opportunities for sponsorship and volunteering, will be shared in the coming months. More information about Pratishtha can be found at www.jsmw.org/pratishtha.”
For more information, please contact:
Rahul Jain
Director of Public Relations
Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington
publicrelations@jainsocietydc.org
www.jsmw.org
About JSMW:
The Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington (JSMW) is a non-profit organization serving the Jain community in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Established in 1980, JSMW is committed to preserving and promoting Jain teachings through spiritual, cultural, and educational initiatives.
The founders of the Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington established the temple in 1980 with the objective of promoting better understanding and following of Jain principles, preserving our rich heritage, and passing it on to future generations. From the initial membership of 20 families in 1980, Jain Society membership has grown to nearly 650 families and has remained a cohesive, harmonized society. The current Jain Center is located in Silver Spring, MD and the new Jain Center is being planned on nearly 5.5 acres in Beltsville, MD. To learn more about JSMW, please visit www.www.jsmw.org or send an email to PublicRelations@jainsocietydc.org.
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