Jainism Represented at the Royal Wedding

29th April 2011, the day of Royal Wedding of His Highness Prince William of Wales with Miss Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey was a Historic Event. It was also a day when for the first time the leaders of Major Nine Faiths, namely Christian, Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, Islam, Jain, Jewish, Sikh and Zoroastrian were invited by her Majesty the Queen to the wedding Service at Westminster Abbey along with the Royal Families, Government Senior Ministers, Celebrities and other important persons.

Dr Natubhai Shah, Chair/CEO of Jain Network (www.jainnetwork.com) was invited to the wedding cermony to represent the Jains. To read his first hand account of the wedding please click on the links below.

Royal Wedding Invitiation

In Picture: Dr Natubhai Shah at the Royal Wedding

ROYAL WEDDING

By Dr Natubhai shah

29^th April 2011, the day of Royal Wedding of His Highness Prince William of Wales with Miss Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey was a Historic Event that brought Joy and Happiness to the people of Britain and many throughout the world. It was also a day when for the first time the leaders of Major Nine Faiths, namely Christian, Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, Islam, Jain, Jewish, Sikh and Zoroastrian were invited by her Majesty the Queen to the wedding Service at Westminster Abbey along with the Royal Families, Government Senior Ministers, Celebrities and other important persons.

I was delighted to attend this unforgettable ceremony as a Jain. The whole programme was meticulously organised. Rather going to the Abbey in car, I travelled by public transport. When the people knew that I was attending the ceremony, some people in the train touched me and took photographs. At Westminster tube station, I was received by a police cadet and escorted to the place of security check.  I was received by a clergy volunteer at the Abbey and escorted to my seat by 9-15am.

At the Westminster Abbey, the Clergy came in magnificent gold ecclesiastical robes, choir boys in red robes and white collars, guests in lounge suits and national dresses, ladies in beautiful dresses and unique hats. We realised that we were sitting with the British Royal Family, Middleton family and friends, Diplomatic Corps, Foreign Dignitaries, Foreign Royal Families, Cabinet, Service Chiefs, Faith Representatives, Celebrities and other guests. It was spectacular scene that will cherish in one’s memory for ever.

The procession of the Queen, the Clergy and the Bride; the music and the atmosphere were magnificent. The service was serene, sacred and dignified. It was in simple language. The Dean of Westminster, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London and the Bride’s Father spoke and used the words praying for the spiritual and physical happiness for the couple. The words included advice to the couple: presenting their bodies as living sacrifice to the God; genuine love to one another, hold fast what is good and hate what is evil; rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer; contribute to the needs of the saints, hospitality to strangers; compassion and forgiveness, humility and living in harmony with one another.  The words echoed the Jain way of life.

We were given prominent seats, just behind the Archbishops and were invited for a reception by the Dean of Westminster after the ceremony.

We will never forget the experience of attending this ceremony. The invitation to attend the Royal Wedding has brought Jain awareness to the wider world and I feel honoured and humbled to witness this unique ceremony as a Jain representative. This was a genuine, modern wedding we can all recognise, and a happy couple whose individuality was undimmed by the pomp and magnificence of the grand royal event. It has won the hearts of millions people and made the Britain proud.