COVID 19

The UK Chief Medical Officers have raised COVID 19 the risk to the public to ‘high’. It is now a pandemic, and it is important that religious and community organisations are prepared.

Most people recover from the Coronavirus after having flu like symptoms for about a week. There is no vaccine as yet.

Health advice can be found here – https://www.nhs.uk/coronavirus/

British Government’s strategy is now to delay the spread of the Coronavirus so that public resources are not overstretched.  The Government advice can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/

There has been guidance and advice issued for charity sector, which can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector

Register if you have a medical condition that makes you extremely vulnerable to coronavirus. For example, you’ll be able to ask for help getting deliveries of essential supplies like food.

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

OneJAIN (32 Jainorganisations working together in the UK) have:

Cancelled all community events except daily Derasarpuja-pakshal with restrictions
Formed a task force ‘Together We Can’ (TWC) for Jain and wider communities.

The task force will include doctors, pharmacists, grocery suppliers andvolunteers

The principle work TWC undertake would be
Issuesimple updates and information relevant to COVID 19
Identifyvulnerable families
Providebasic requirements of food & medicine
Providegeneric health support
Createneighbourhood groups on what’s app
Share supportfor essentials
Work withother organisations for better service to Jain and other communities
During this time Jain organisationsare organising online activities via Zoom and YouTube. This includes sessionson/for;

Children,
Yoga
Derasar Aarti (temple worship)
Jainism classes
Meditation

Contact info@jainology.org for more information.

OneJain Social Practices

Weddings
Jain wedding rituals share many similarities with Hindu wedding rituals, largely due to their common development in India. The main element of the wedding is to circumambulate the sacred fire four times, representing; (a) religion (b) householder’s activities (3) fulfilling life’s enjoyments (4) final liberation after walking the path of righteousness.
Seven vows are taken and the bride is ‘given away’ by her parents to the bridegroom. Approximately 400 to 500 relatives and friends are invited for the event. A grand wedding can have a week or more of events, a smaller one may be limited to a day with an evening dinner reception.
Funerals
Jains believe that the human body is a matter of importance only until the time is has a soul. Once the soul has left the mortal body, it continues in its cyclical journey of birth and death. In order to keep the earth clean and pure, Jains cremate those who pass away. The cremation is done as soon as possible. At the cremation a few Jain hymns and prayers are sung, followed brief bio sketch of the deceased person. Usually 200 to 300 people attend the cremation, depending on the size of the crematorium.
Festivals
Jains have usually three important festivals each year:
- - Mahavir Janma Kalyanak: The annual birth anniversary of the last Jain Tirthankara (enlightened teacher) Mahavira. This usually falls in March or April every year. It is a community event and the program includes devotional songs, dancing and scriptural readings. The attendance at this event is in the region of about 700 to 1000+ depending on the size of the venue.
- - Paryushan: This is the most important religious festival of the Jains, which usually falls in August or September every year. For most of the people, it is a period of meditation, fasting and doing religious rituals. A ritual of confession, repentance and forgiveness called Pratikraman is observed during the evenings. People usually say ‘Michchhami Dukkadam’ (May my faults be forgiven…Please forgive us for any things we might have done). Depending on size of the community about 400 to 500+ people assemble for the event.
- - Diwali:- Jains celebrate Diwali as it is the day that Tirthankara Mahavira attained Nirvana (leaving his mortal human body and achieving liberation). Jain observe fasts and spend their time in religious rituals and worship. The next day is the Indian (and Jain) New Year and is celebrated as the day Tirthankara Mahavira’s main disciple (Swami Gautam) attained enlightenment and ultimate knowledge, called Keval Gnan.
Private and Individual WorshipJains do not have specific days for worship, and people pray at home and/or visit temple throughout the day (provided the temple is open). There are many ways and rituals of worship, as well as means of meditation, scripture reading etc.
Jain temples in the UK is attached with facilities at each of the place.
Baptisms/Christening Confirmations: Jains do not have an equivalent ceremony.
Other ritual practices: None

List of OneJAIN members providing services for vulnerable and elderly people is below:

OneJAIN MEMBERS PROVIDIGN SERVICES FOR COVID 19 24.03.20

No	OneJAIN member & contact details	Programme initiated
1	Institute of Jainology Stanmore Nemu Chandaria 077 7519 2336 nemuchand@gmail.com	Coordinating action programmes by OneJAIN for COVID Crisis.
2	Oshwal Association of the UK Potters Bar. Hertfordshire Harish Motichand Shah – Hon. Sec	All community functions have been cancelled except mandatory daily Pooja/Pakshal services at Derasar. Recruited 150 Volunteer task force under RESPONSE COMMITTEE in nine area i.e. East, North, North East, North West, West, South areas of London and Leicester, Luton, Northampton for providing voluntary support to elderly and vulnerable persons to their membership and wider communities. They are happy to join hands with other organisations.
3	Navnat Vanik Association of the UK Hayes	Have 70 volunteers and 4 coordinators who will reach their membership and wider communizes for supply of provisions and essential items through their respective local groups
4	Mahavir Foundation – Kenton Harrow Niraj Sutaria	All community functions has been cancelled except mandatory daily Pooja/Pakshal services at Derasar Providing medicine, grocery shopping, cleaning or household materials and talk to people who feel lonely; The Group is called MF CoVid-19 Help Group.
5	Jain Network – Colindale	Have cancelled all events at Jain Centre Colindale. Is providing free food for Aymbil Oli for tapsvis only, to be collected or delivered by prior arrangement
6	Jain Samaj Europe – Leicester Kalpit Doshi – Secretary	Jain Centre is closed until further notice. Have formed well organised support group for reaching out to lonely people in need for picking up shopping and deliver urgent supplies, medical and non-medical advice and guidelines, spiritual support, physical and mental wellbeing. Situation is reviewed on regular basis as per Government announcements.
7	Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur Bushey, Hertfordshire Ashwin Mehta	Spiritual centre at Bushey is closed but using video-conferencing for children, youth and elderly activities. Appointed 3 persons for contact in case of concerns regarding COVID-19. Created volunteer force of 50 people to provide snacks and toiletries, to healthcare and support workers in nearby hospitals, pharmacies to offer delivery service for medicines etc.
8	Jain Samaj Manchester Hardik Shah	All events at the Derasar has been put on hold except mandatory daily Pooja/Pakshal services at Derasar. Formed a support group of four people for picking up shopping, posting mail, urgent supplies and reaching out to lonely people in need.
9	Young Jains Kavit Haria	Will be happy to participate as needed. Facilitating On Line conversation to help stay connected and FINDING CALM IN THE CHAOS 25th Mar 8 to 9pm and 29th Mar 4 to 5pm
10	Kutchi Oshwal Jains Paras Mamania	All community functions has been cancelled. Have informed all members the latest news around COVID-19 and advised to follow Government guidelines
11	Shri Kailsahgiri Digambar Jain Community Hounslow Rakesh Jain	Is providing delivery of hot vegetarian food to those in need at doorstep and provide mask free of costs
12	Vanik Council – Harrow Manhar Mehta	Provides Chaplaincy services and distribution of information that is of interest to community
13	Shree Digambar Jain Association Harrow Weald Sandip Shah	Derasar closed until further notice. Have contacted and offered help to all vulnerable members of their organisation
14	Jain Association of the UK Subhau Shah	Have postponed all religious, social events and meetings until government gives go ahead.
15	Bhakti Mandal – Colindale Prafula Shah	Have cancelled all events including Friday night Bhakti sessions. Have started daily japps 8 to 9 pm with meditation to build physical, emotional resilience. Have informed all members to follow Government guidelines
16	Shri Raj Saubhag Satsang Mandal Bushey Jaysukh Mehta	Primarily a senior citizens group providing discussions, spiritual retreat and meditation to keep members engaged to prevent depression being confined to home
17	Shree Digambar Jain Visa Mewada Association London Mahesh Shah	Have cancelled all programmes.
18	JITO Manchester Kiran Mehta	Arranging support to British Jains stranded in India and other countries especially students in UK due to cancellation of classes or flights. Sharing business and financial information to assist community members.
19	Jain Vishva Bharti JVB Harrow Hasu Vora	Have created pool of volunteers to assist most vulnerable and needy members and wider communities with supply of cooked food, groceries and other essential items; to assist India students stranded in UK as per guidelines of India High Commission UK.
20	Navjivan Vadil Kendra Edgware Vinod Parekh	Most of the members are elderly. In process of organising volunteers for supply of food, medicines to vulnerable members of the organisation
21	Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Digambar Charitable Trust – Hounslow Saurabh	Will provide grocery shopping, medicine delivery for senior and vulnerable citizens including mask and hand sanitiser distribution (when available) from 28 Mar to Kenton, Wembley, Kingsbury, Ealing, Harrow and Wealdstone, Hounslow, Hayes, Feltham, Isleworth, Brentford, Slough and Langley areas.
22	South East Jain Association – Crawley Prakash Parekh	Are in process of organising volunteers for distributing essential needs to vulnerable members and wider communities
23	Navyug Jain Pragati Mandal – Edgware Bipin P Shah	In process of organising volunteers for service of supplying essentials to vulnerable members and wider communities
24	International Mahavir Jain Mission Birmingham Rakesh Jain	In process of organising volunteers for service of supplying essentials to vulnerable members and wider communities
25	Young Indian Vegetarians – Croydon Nitin Mehta	In process of organising volunteers for service of supplying essentials to vulnerable members and wider communities
26	Vanik Association of the UK – South London Raksha Shah	They have formed streetwise volunteer groups for helping needy and vulnerable members of the communities in their area
27	Veeryatan UK London Nilesh Kothari	In process of organising volunteers for service of supplying essentials to vulnerable members and wider communities
28	Jain Sangh East London – Essex Kirit Shah	In process of organising volunteers for service of supplying essentials to vulnerable members and wider communities
29	Yorkshire Jain Foundation Angela Jain	Angela Jain is available to talk on phone/text anyone of all ages who feels lonely and anxious
30	Jain Sangh Birmingham Vinod Mehta	Small group and supporting their vulnerable members for groceries, medicine and other essential requirements

Should you need to contact a jain organisation near your area, please contact info@jainology.org for more information.

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