The Jain community of Manchester organised a two day event on 18th and 19th April at their splendid community centre.
Nitin Mehta of the Indian Vegetarian Society was the keynote speaker on the 18th. Amongst the other speakers were Gaurakrishnadas of Manchester Hare Krishna society, Mukesh Pancoli of the Brahma Kumari organisation and Marion Hussenbux of the Quaker Concern for Animals.
Nitin Mehta spelled out the ecological and the health cost of a meat diet. Each one of us he said should practise Ahimsa in our lives and encourage people to give up meat eating. Leather goods such as leather shoes, leather sofas or cars with leather seats should also avoided he said. Honey should not be consumed by vegetarians as there is violence in its production and it is effectively bee vomit! He also urged vegetarians to consider giving up dairy products due to the cruelty perpetrated on dairy cows.
A Mahavir award was presented Leslie Tarleton who for the last 30 years has dedicate her life to animals kept at the two sanctuaries she runs in Liverpool and Wales. The award was given away by Jayendrabhai Patel who is an active member of the Jain Samaj.
On the 19th around 300 people attended the celebrations of the birth of Lord Mahavir. Nitin Mehta urged Jains to revive the message of Ahimsa as preached by Lord Mahavir. He said we have inherited a priceless culture, we must protect it and nurture it well. Ahimsa and Vegetarianism are the keys to the spiritual revival of our heritage. Children must be brought up in a way that they acquire a taste for traditional Indian vegetarian food.
Nitin Mehta thanked the organisers from Jain Samaj for making the whole event possible. The President of Manchester Jain Samaj, Piyush Mehta, presented Nitin Mehta with a memento for his tireless efforts in promoting vegetarianism.
The Vegetarian Society of UK has it headquarters in Manchester and there were thousands of vegetarians in Manchester area as far back as the 1870’s. The Jain community of Manchester is keen to build new links with the Vegetarian Society of UK to promote Ahimsa.