Devotees, seekers, and well-wishers across the world gathered to mark the commencement of the 60th birthday celebrations of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji.
East Stroudsburg, PA: Shrimad Rajchandra Spiritual Center, USA (SRSC USA) recently hosted the "Festival of Bliss," a special three-day event commencing its founder, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji’s, 60th birth anniversary. The festival took place from September 26 to 28, 2025, at the center, a community-integrated sanctuary focused on spiritual growth, wellness, and service.
The commencement of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji’s 60th birth anniversary was celebrated with immense devotion and joy. The celebrations began with heartfelt birthday wishes to the spiritual luminary, followed by a soulful musical dedication by devotees. The celebrations continued with a soul-stirring discourse and a serene lakeside veneration, making it a truly unforgettable occasion.
Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji explaining the difference between human birth and human life.
The celebrations began with Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji paying obeisance to Jain spiritual leader Shrimad Rajchandraji.
Addressing a large gathering, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji beautifully explained the difference between human birth and human life. He said that if we transform human birth into a Festival of Bliss, then it will be said that human life has truly been lived. He further explained that it is an opportunity to be awakened. By awakening the true discrimination between worthless and worthwhile living, a true seeker can remain detached even amidst worldly entanglements.
With this spirit at heart, he guided seekers deeper into the journey of devotion, dissolving all delusions along the way. The Festival of Bliss was a momentous occasion for devotees and seekers worldwide, offering a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a spiritual and cultural experience. The festival celebrated the profound teachings and humanitarian work of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji.
A Mega Humanitarian Event was organized to provide assistance to the underprivileged.
Apart from the birthday celebrations, the event included transformative discourses by Pujya Gurudevshri, providing guidance on inner peace and spiritual growth, a special devotional performance by acclaimed musician and singer, Sachin Sanghvi, and a mega humanitarian event dedicated to selfless service, embodying the Mission's core values of compassion and social upliftment for the community. Over 100,000 meals were hand-packed by volunteers for communities worldwide facing starvation and malnutrition.
Over 100,000 meals were hand-packed by volunteers for communities worldwide facing starvation and malnutrition at the Mega Humanitarian Event.
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Vibrant and devotional performances lit up the celebrations.
The Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care (SRLC) Evening of Gratitude was a heartfelt tribute to the spirit of selfless service to all. Amid the celebration of the Festival of Bliss, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji graciously initiated three blessed seekers into Atmarpit Diksha, inspiring countless others to deepen their bond and walk the path of selfless dedication.
Born on September 26, 1966, in Mumbai, India, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji displayed signs of spiritual brilliance from an early age. He has an MA in Philosophy with a gold medal, followed by a PhD for His extensive research on Shri Atmasiddhi Shastra, one of Shrimad Rajchandraji’s literary creations.
He is the founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur, a spiritual organization now spanning 206 centres across six continents, dedicated to the holistic well-being of humanity.
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Devotees hearing an illuminating discourse by Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji with rapt attention. (All Photos courtesy: Organizers/Festival of Bliss)
As part of the commencement of the 60th birth anniversary celebrations, the Shrimad Rajchandra Love & Care USA (SRLC USA), in partnership with St Luke’s University Health Network, hosted the Poconos Health and Wellness Fest 2025 on September 27. This free community event brought together licensed medical professionals, preventive screenings, and wellness workshops for over 250 residents of the Pocono Mountains.
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Services and workshops were provided by licensed medical professionals at the 2025 Poconos Health and Wellness Fest. (Photos courtesy: SRLC USA)
The health fair reflected SRLC USA’s mission of serving both visitors and the local community— by offering practical tools for healthier living alongside its wellness, mindfulness, and community service programs. This health fair addressed critical healthcare access needs in the Pocono Mountains. By removing cost and access barriers, SRLC USA and its healthcare partners provided preventive care available to residents—while reinforcing the center’s commitment to community well-being.
Dr Chintan Mehta, an internal medicine specialist, who is also a Trustee of SRLC USA, said, “Working alongside St Luke’s University Health Network allowed us to bridge community service with professional medical expertise. This event reflected SRLC USA’s belief that true wellness includes not only mindfulness and stress relief but also access to healthcare and preventive education.”
Services and workshops were provided by licensed medical professionals, which included vision and dental health checks, distribution of prescription glasses, blood pressure and cholesterol testing, diabetes screenings, bone density and BMI assessments, and dementia screenings.
