By Aarna Patel
Young Jains of America (YJA) is an organization dedicated to educating the next generation of Jain youth. By promoting dialogue, education, and social engagement, YJA creates a new generation of leaders who are equipped to positively impact their communities and uphold Jain traditions in today’s diverse society.
At this year's YJA 2024 Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, high school seniors Laksh Mehta, from Bartlett, Illinois, and Prisha Shah, from Plymouth Michigan, shared with us their motivation for attending and their favorite part of the convention.
“We saw YJA back in our freshman year because it happens every 2 years, and I think just seeing how much fun everyone was having, how connected they are to our culture, and just seeing the community that YJA provides you with, we HAD to go,” says Shah. “So this year as soon as it came out, I believe it was 12 in the night, we immediately signed up. It looked like a lot of fun and it seemed like a great way to get to know people similar to ourselves.”
This year's YJA 2024 Convention featured mixers, garba night, a formal night, and numerous opportunities to connect with others and meet new people. “Garba was definitely a very memorable experience. I got to dance with Jains across the country, and it was a lot of fun meeting and dancing with new people,” Mehta reflects. “The formal night was the most fun I’ve had in months…combining groups with a few other groups and being able to dance together was so much fun,” Shah recalls.
(Photo provided by Aarna Patel and Krishiv Shah)
YJA attendees can range from ages 14-29 and with such diversity, meeting new people across the country becomes a natural part of daily life. “Through its many engaging events, I think YJA does a great job at bringing together the Jain community across the country. Assigned seating for the first day, accompanied with the many different forms of icebreakers allowed me to explore like-minded Jains from different states. The social aspect even came into play during housing, as my roommate and I were paired with a roommate duo from another state, which was interesting and fun,” says Mehta.
This year's YJA convention even helped to evolve their understanding of Jainism. “My perspective on Jainism evolved in the sense that Jainism is so deeply rooted, not only within rituals but just as the type of person you are. Everyone there was so welcoming and so kind; it was so easy to talk to people, ask them where they're from, and what they want to do. It was great to see how every person is following their culture living here in America and how they are expressing their Jainism. It gave me a broader view on what it meant to be part of that community,” expresses Shah.
YJA also focuses deeply on modernity as many of their events connect to contemporary life. “A lot of YJA’s events directly correlated with modernity. For example, events such as ‘Studying Jainism at a University’ connected Jainism with normal college life, and taught ways to practice this religion in an academic setting,” says Mehta. “By understanding that Jainism is widespread throughout the country, I realized that Jainism is not only a religion, it’s a binding force that brings people together, no matter the distance. Also, through the relatable sessions that took place, I got a better understanding of Jainism through different perspectives,” Mehta concludes.
YJA stands as a pillar for the next generation of Jain youth fostering a connection to cultural identity and showcasing the transformative power of community. The YJA 2024 Convention exemplified this through its events. From spirited mixers to cultural celebrations like Garba Night, Laksh Mehta and Prisha Shah discovered new dimensions of their cultural identity and made new, lasting connections with people who share their values. As YJA continues to empower future leaders and bridge generations, it positively influences their communities and upholds Jain traditions in today's diverse society.
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(Aarna Patel is a high school senior from Grand Blanc, Michigan with an interest in studying neuroscience or human biology and pursuing a career in medicine. Article submission coordinated by Krishiv Shah. Please visit www.thesouthasiantimes.info for more Kaleidoscope publications)
