Aho Gurudev: 60 Initiatives Mark Rakeshji’s 60th Birthday

MUMBAI : Mumbai turned into a global gathering point for spirituality and service as Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur celebrated the 60th birth anniversary of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji with 60 new spiritual and seva initiatives.

The two-day ‘Aho Gurudev – 60 Years of an Enlightened Existence’ celebration was held at the Jio World Convention Centre on September 25 and 26. The event brought together spiritual leaders, corporate figures, philanthropists, celebrities, volunteers and seekers from 214 cities and 24 countries.

The gathering was presented not simply as a birthday celebration, but as a tribute to the lives touched by Gurudevshri Rakeshji’s spiritual and humanitarian work.

Among those attending were Pujya Morari Bapu, Pujya Anandmurti Gurumaa, Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Swami Swaroopanandji, BK Sister Shivani, Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati and Bhiku Sanghasenaji.

Several prominent business and public figures also participated, including Infosys founder N. R. Narayana Murthy, Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, actor Ranbir Kapoor and several industrialists and philanthropists.

A major highlight was the announcement of 60 landmark initiatives, divided equally between spiritual and seva projects.

The seva initiatives include the Shrimad Rajchandra Sarvamangal Cancer Hospital, a hospital and medical college in Surendranagar, a mental health initiative, 60 new Love and Care Centres, medical camps targeting millions of people, animal-care facilities, an AI-powered career guidance platform and initiatives for women, rural communities and the environment.

The spiritual initiatives include new spiritual centres, a wellness centre, solitude spaces, a museum and new satsang centres in South America. The Mission also announced plans to make Gurudevshri’s discourses, books and meditations available in eight major languages, along with translations of Atmasiddhi Shastra into 60 languages.

Speaking at the event, Narayana Murthy said the true measure of a spiritual tradition lies in the compassion it inspires through action.

“These are the acts that reaffirm our belief in God and in saints,” Murthy said, referring to the 60 initiatives.

Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran said Gurudevshri’s teachings were helping spread values such as trust, character, discipline and perseverance among young people.

Actor Ranbir Kapoor described the gathering as a “collective energy of joy and happiness” and praised the Mission’s efforts to take healthcare and service to remote communities.

The celebration also featured a Sacred Atmarpit Diksha ceremony, where 11 young seekers took vows of celibacy and committed themselves to a spiritual path.

Gurudevshri Rakeshji delivered three discourses during the programme on ‘Choosing Consciously’, ‘Renouncing Courageously’ and ‘Serving Compassionately’.

The celebrations are now set to travel beyond Mumbai, with programmes planned across India and later in Dubai, London, Toronto and cities across the United States.