India's Consul General in New York, Binay Srikanta Pradhan, was the distinguished guest at a special event held to celebrate the Jain community's presence in the United States.

The Jain Center of America (JCA), the first registered and organized Jain temple in the U.S., marked a momentous occasion with a grand celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavir Swami’s statue (pratima) arriving in New York.

Consul General Pradhan, who attended the event as the chief guest, applauded the JCA for its significant role in supporting the Jain community in the region.

The anniversary celebrations underscored the temple’s historical importance and its ongoing commitment to fostering unity and spiritual development among Jains across America.

“The Jain Center of America has played a pivotal role in preserving Jain culture and spirituality within the diaspora,” Consul General Pradhan noted in a post shared on the Consulate’s official X account, featuring photos from the event.

Founded in the mid-1960s to serve the spiritual needs of Jain immigrants in New York, the JCA is recognized as the first Jain temple of its kind in the United States.