Shubharambh – An Auspicious Beginning
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Beltsville, MD, USA – On November 1st, 2020, the Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington (JSMW) celebrated an event that marked the beginning of construction of their new Jain temple in Beltsville, Maryland. This amazing landmark near the nation’s capital will be built with white marble on a 5.5-acre land and will be a place of worship grounded with the principles of non-violence for hundreds of Jain families in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the Washington DC region.
This construction event, named Shubharambh (auspicious beginning), was an online event attended by ~500 people from the local community and around the world. Shubharambh was conducted under the guidance and blessings of skilled Vidhikar Shri Narendrabhai Nandu with religious hymns and lively music live from Mumbai, India.
After an hour of spirited devotional music performed by artists in India, on behalf of the Jain Society, President Sharad Doshi and Trustee Pragnesh Shah took the honor of pouring the cement on holy spots. Overwhelmed with the emotions of witnessing their dreams come true, JSMW members and guests donated with open hearts and pledged over $300,000 in just one hour!
JSMW’s goal is to increase awareness of Jain principles, inculcate Jain values in future generations, unite multiple Jains sects, and promote inter-faith understanding. The 30,000 sq. ft. Jain Center will be a single large complex with places of worship for multiple Jain sects, and an educational and social wing that will offer a library, classrooms and a community center.
The New Jain Center is located at 4241 Ammendale Road, Beltsville, Maryland and is projected to complete in 2 years.
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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