2nd October, 2020

OneJAIN inaugurates AHIMSA PEACE GARDEN to commemorate Gandhiji's year long celebrations of 150th Birth Anniversary

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on Friday 2nd October 2020, an audience of over 330 people including members from OneJAIN organisations and special guests, logged into Zoom for a 'virtual' ceremony to officially open the 'Ahimsa Peace Garden' in Harrow to commemorate the finale of the year-long celebration of Mahatma Gandhiji's 150th birth anniversary. The celebration was testament to the stellar efforts of dozens of volunteers from these organisations who jointly partnered on this project together with Harrow Council and Harrow Recreation Ground Users Group to transform a previously unmanaged and overgrown garden and picnic area into a beautiful 'Ahimsa Peace Garden'. The project was successfully conceived and managed by Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur UK who also conducted the Opening event.

During the programme, after an opening auspicious prayer by the Samanijis of Jain Vishva Bharati, Young Jains performed live Bhakti and delivered a short presentation entitled 'Celebrating Gandhiji's virtues' reminding us of Gandhiji's strength through ahimsa, truth & courage amongst other values which have been and continue to be an inspiration for generations, and which he himself had imbibed from his spiritual guide, the Jain philosopher and poet Shrimad Rajchandraji.

Other highlights of the Opening ceremony included a 'virtual' ribbon cutting countdown, short videos on the background of the 'Ahimsa Peace Garden' project, special congratulatory messages from Her Excellency Smt. Gaitri Kumar, The Honourable High Commissioner of India, The Worshipful The Mayor of Harrow Nitin Parekh and Honourable Gareth Thomas Member of Parliament for Harrow West and Chair of Jain APPG. Students of Veerayatan UK gave a talk on Environmental Care and the event concluded with a soothing Peace Meditation.

OneJAIN is delighted to have helped in the sponsorship of this project, and providing a community asset that will continue to bring people of all backgrounds together in a spirit of peace and harmony, whilst helping to make a difference to the environment. It is a testament to what can be achieved when multiple organisations come together with a common purpose and vision. The entire Programme can be watched at https://youtu.be/AhzFUri1iIw

Best wishes Ashwin Mehta Trustee, Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (UK)

Institute of Jainology Limited, Unit 25, Wadsworth Business Centre, 21 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Greenford, Middlesex UB6 7LQ, UK. Registered UK Charity No.: 1131173 www.jainology.org Registered Company No.: 06659303 Telephone: + 44 (0)20 8997 2300 Facsimile: + 44 (0)20 8997 4964 Email: [email protected] parasparopagraho Jivànàm souls render service to one another all life is interdependent