In a powerful display of unity, the Shwetambar, Digambar, and Sthanak sects of the Jain community came together to inaugurate a new Jain temple in Beltsville, Maryland. The occasion marked a historic milestone for the Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington (JSMW) and the broader Jain community across North America.

The Param Pratishtha Mahotsav, held from May 31 to June 1, 2025, drew thousands of attendees from across the United States and India to participate in the two-day celebration.

“This is a remarkable demonstration of this unity across the different Jain sects,” Partha Jailwala of the JSMW communications team told South Asian Herald. “Very rarely you see all the Jain sects coming together to build a temple under one roof. Our individual day-to-day practices are different, our rituals are different, but in a sense, we all believe in the same values that bond us together. So, it’s a very rare thing to happen.”

Jailwala noted that fundraising for the temple began 15 years ago and described the project as the “blood and sweat” of many families.

“So, our plan is to make food here on site and serve it to about 800 people who can actually sit and eat here,” Jailwala explained.

He emphasized the scale of community support, saying, “We are very fortunate that almost every family in our Sangh has somehow donated towards this grand initiative. There are some families who have gone way above and beyond with their individual contributions go into millions of dollars.”

At a press conference on June 1, JSMW’s Director of Communications, Rahul Jain, traced the roots of the organization back to 1980 when it was founded by 20 families. The original temple and center were inaugurated in 1989 in Silver Spring, Maryland. As the community grew, so did the vision for a larger temple that could preserve and represent Jain values and culture for future generations.

He explained that the current temple was conceptualized in 2008, with the first major fundraiser held in 2010 in Bethesda, Maryland. “It’s a grassroots project,” he said, with around 450 families contributing over the years.

Vice President of JSMW, Sandeep Mehta, highlighted the community’s perseverance. “We’re a small community, but we are a very determined community,” he said, reflecting on the groundbreaking in 2019 and challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We met several obstacles, but we found a way through that – whether it is funding, manpower, coordination with multiple partners in North America and so on. And here we are,” Mehta said.

Currently in its first phase, the temple complex has completed the religious portion. According to Mehta, phase two, expected within the next two years, will include a religious school with classrooms for children to learn Jainism and Gujarati. A third phase will add a professional kitchen to prepare Jain food according to specific dietary guidelines.

JSMW leader Pavan Jain described the Mahotsav as a defining moment. He told South Asian Herald, “The Param Pratishtha Mahotsav of JSMW is a historic event. Many families from across the DC metro area, but also across the country, and India, have come to this unique event where we’ve been able to have the inauguration of the Shankheshwar Parshwanath temple, the Adinath temple, as well as the Sthanak, all at the same time in the same weekend, really bringing our whole Jain community together.”

Founding Member and Past President of the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA), Prem Jain, called the temple unique in its inclusive approach. “I’m very happy to be here in Washington, DC for this Pratishtha ceremony. This is really one of the unique temples built where all the traditions are in one premise. And everybody from Digambar, Shwetambar, Sthanakwasi and Terapanthi, and all the groups, they are coming together. It’s a beautiful temple,” Jain told South Asian Herald.

Past President and current Trustee of JSMW, Bupesh Mehta, underscored the temple’s mission. Mehta told South Asian Herald “We deeply believe in non-violence; we want to promote Jain values to the community through this temple.”

Chairman of JAINA’s Long Range Planning Committee, Dr. Manoj Jain, who traveled from Memphis, Tennessee, told South Asian Herald, “I think this will be a monumental example for all the Jains in North America,” pointing to the estimated 200,000 Jains living in the region. He noted Jainism’s core teachings are non-violence, non-possessiveness, and non-absolutism. 

He also explained that Jainism is all about following simple principles such as vegetarianism, mindfulness, contentment, and environmentalism, so we want to share those principles with the West. 

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