Mumbai hosted a grand spiritual gathering as Bollywood personalities, industrialists and thousands of devotees from around the world came together at the Jio World Convention Centre for Aho Gurudev. The two-day event, held on September 25 and 26, 2026, marked the 60th birthday of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD).
Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, whose birthday is on September 26, 1966, was honoured through a celebration conducted across three sessions. The event saw the participation of several well-known personalities, including actor Ranbir Kapoor, veteran actress and politician Hema Malini, actress Sonam Kapoor, filmmaker Subhash Ghai and producer Sajid Nadiadwala.
Ranbir Kapoor and Hema Malini Share Their Experiences
Ranbir Kapoor spoke about the atmosphere at the gathering and said he was struck by the calm and spiritual energy surrounding the event. He also praised the Mission’s service initiatives, particularly its efforts to take specialised medical care to remote parts of the country.
The actor said his recent personal and professional experiences, including becoming a father and portraying Lord Rama in the upcoming Ramayana, have brought him closer to India’s spiritual traditions. He also expressed his interest in visiting the Mission’s ashram in Dharampur.
Hema Malini also spoke about the significance of the occasion. Describing Gurudevshri’s six decades as a journey of spiritual influence, she highlighted the presence of 11 young devotees who took diksha, or vows of renunciation, during the celebrations. She described witnessing the ceremony as an emotional experience.
60 Initiatives Announced for Spiritual Growth and Seva
The Aho Gurudev celebrations also became a platform for SRMD to announce 60 initiatives marking six decades of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji’s life. The initiatives have been divided equally between spiritual development and selfless service, with 30 focused on each area.
Among the service initiatives is a commitment to reach 60 million people through medical camps, anaemia mitigation programmes and vision-care projects. The Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital Network is also set to expand from 40 beds to 2,000 beds.
Another major initiative is the establishment of the Shrimad Rajchandra Sarvamangal Cancer Hospital, which aims to provide healthcare to more than 11 lakh tribal people. Six multi-speciality mega medical camps are also planned in Dharampur, Vaamanjoor, Gadchiroli, Purulia, Leh and Darbhanga. The Mission further plans to develop a network of Love and Care Centres across India.
New Spiritual Centres and Global Expansion
The spiritual initiatives include plans to establish 10 new ashrams and centres around the world. A new 35,000-square-foot spiritual centre is also planned at Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, alongside the expansion of the Dharampur ashram.
The Mission also announced plans to release 60 new books. This includes translations of six of Gurudevshri’s titles into 10 global languages, as well as a 60-language edition of Shrimad Rajchandraji’s Shri Atmasiddhi Shastra. Six new satsang centres are also planned across South America.
The celebrations additionally witnessed 11 young, highly educated devotees from different parts of the world undertaking Atmarpit Diksha on September 26. The commitment represents a lifelong dedication to celibacy, spiritual practice and service.
Thousands of devotees attended the event, with participants arriving from 23 to 24 countries. The gathering also brought together spiritual leaders and prominent personalities from different fields, highlighting the international presence of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji’s teachings and the work of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur.