Shrimad Rajchandra Spiritual Center, USA, recently hosted the “Festival of Bliss,” a special 3-day celebration commencing its founder, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji’s 60th birth anniversary. The festival was hosted from September 26-28, 2025 at the center, a community-integrated sanctuary focused on spiritual growth, wellness, and service. The center is located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, in the Pocono Mountains.
Filled with immense devotion and joy, the celebrations began with heartfelt birthday wishes paid to Pujya Gurudevshri, followed by a soulful musical dedication by devotees. The first day of the event continued with a soul-stirring discourse and a serene lakeside veneration.
The founder of the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur in India, now a worldwide movement, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji delivered illuminating discourses at the festival, guiding seekers toward inner peace and spiritual growth.
Addressing a large gathering, Pujya Gurudevshri 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, Pujya Gurudevshri guided seekers deeper into the journey of devotion, dissolving 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. Attendees participated in various activities, including:
- Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji’s Birth Anniversary Celebrations: A joyful tribute to the spiritual leader’s commencement of his 60th year.
- Transformative Discourses by Pujya Gurudevshri: Illuminating discourses providing guidance on inner peace and spiritual growth.
- Soul-stirring Melodies: A special devotional performance by acclaimed musician and singer, Sachin Sanghvi of Sachin-Jigar duo fame.
- Mega Humanitarian Event: An initiative 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.
- Poconos Health and Wellness Fest: The Shrimad Rajchandra Love & Care, USA (SRLC), in partnership with St. Luke’s University Health Network, hosted the Poconos Health and Wellness Fest on September 27, 2025. This free community event brought together licensed medical professionals, preventive screenings, and wellness workshops for over 250 residents. The health fair addressed critical healthcare access needs in the Pocono Mountains. By removing cost and access barriers, SRLC USA and its healthcare partners made preventive care available to residents, reinforcing the center’s commitment to community well-being.
- Expressions of Gratitude: The SRLC Evening of Gratitude was a heartfelt tribute to the spirit of selfless service to all.
- Diksha Ceremony: Pujya Gurudevshri graciously initiated three blessed seekers into Atmarpit Diksha initiation, inspiring others to deepen their bond and walk the path of selfless dedication.
Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji: Spiritual visionary and humanitarian
Propounding the path of Bhagwan Mahavir, the 24th Jain Tirthankara, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji is a spiritual visionary and a modern-day mystic. He is the Founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur, which he named to honor his idol and inspiration, Shrimad Rajchandra (1867-1901).
Gurudevshri is illuminating numerous lives by holding programs in various countries year after year, where seekers imbibe his teachings and elevate themselves. He has personally led thousands of Satsang Shibirs and Sadhana Bhattis (meditation retreats). He has also represented Jainism at global forums and addressed international conferences.
About Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur, India
SRMD, founded by Gurudevshri Rakeshji in 1994, is a spiritual movement committed to inner transformation through wisdom, meditation, and selfless service. The organization runs over 200 centers across six continents.
Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, the global headquarters of SRMD, covers 223 acres on the outskirts of Dharampur in southern Gujarat. Rakeshji selected Dharampur because it was blessed by Shrimad Rajchandra during his visit in 1900. Mahatma Gandhi acknowledged Shrimad Rajchandra as his spiritual guide.
For more information about the Poconos event: srmd.org/festival-of-bliss
Other websites: SRMD.org and SRLCusa.org
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