2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 196
Commending the Federation of Jain Associations in North America – Virginia Chapter.
Agreed to by the Senate, March 10, 2026
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 12, 2026
WHEREAS, the Federation of Jain Associations in North America, an umbrella organization representing Jain communities and institutions across the United States and Canada, was founded in 1981 with a mission to preserve, practice, and promote Jain Dharma and the Jain way of life, while fostering fellowship among Jains of all sects throughout North America; and
WHEREAS, the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA) supports more than 70 affiliated Jain centers and serves as the principal national body advancing Jain values of nonviolence, pluralism, compassion, ethical living, and community engagement throughout North America; and
WHEREAS, JAINA's national activities include educational initiatives, interfaith engagement, religious publications, community outreach, and large-scale convocation events that deepen public understanding of Jain contributions to American civic and cultural life; its programs emphasize core Jain principles, such as ahimsa (nonviolence), environmental stewardship, ethical entrepreneurship, and service to diverse communities; and
WHEREAS, the Jain community in Virginia is active, growing, and deeply engaged in both religious and civic life, and the JAINA – Virginia Chapter encompasses multiple local Jain centers and temples that serve hundreds of families across the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the Jain Society of Northern Virginia provides religious services, educational programming, youth activities, and community gatherings centered on Jain teachings in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area; and