Mumbai just witnessed a cultural turning point. The sixth edition of the Global Youth Festival (GYF), organised by Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD) as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, transformed Jio World Garden into a vibrant, youth-driven arena of purpose, passion and creativity. With a floating attendance of over 20,000, the festival marked its biggest edition yet.
Featuring 60+ experiences across six immersive arenas, GYF 2025 brought together a compelling mix of wisdom, wellbeing, art, adventure, culture, music and social impact. Backed by the Government of Maharashtra’s Departments of Sports and Youth Affairs and Cultural Affairs, the festival delivered a multi-dimensional experience that went far beyond conventional youth events.
Among the standout attractions were Innerverse, a fusion of art, technology and sonic storytelling; Wisdom Masterclasses that placed introspection at the heart of youth culture; and The Love and Care Arena, which showcased SRMD’s real-world impact across women’s empowerment, child education, rural upliftment and environmental action.
The festival’s most anticipated moment came with the Wisdom Masterclass by Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, founder of SRMD. His message urging the youth to “Take a U-Turn Within” offered a profound yet practical blueprint for clarity and inner strength in an increasingly overwhelming world.
Atmarpit Nemiji, Vice-President of SRMD, further energised attendees with a talk encouraging them to embrace a life “wiser, lighter, and rooted in love and meditation.”
GYF 2025 also brought together prominent personalities from business, wellness, culture and entrepreneurship, including Malaika Arora, Dipali Goenka, Diipa Büller-Khosla, Saloni Anand, Karan Sawhney, and Sarvesh Sashi.
A corporate playbook panel moderated by financial expert Nilesh Shah, Managing Director at Kotak Mahindra Asset Management, featured leaders such as Kaushik Shaparia, Damodar Mall, and Sarang Lakhanee, offering high-impact insights for a generation seeking authenticity and purpose.
Nilesh Shah noted, “GYF clearly results into unbundling of energy… The message remains the same, that’s universal, but the delivery changes and this GYF is actually connecting with the next gen in the language they can understand.”
Attendees engaged in Mumbai’s largest outdoor sound healing session, an EDM-inspired yoga flow, and a high-adrenaline Adventure Thrill Zone with neon karts, neon pickleball, inflatable obstacle runs, bouldering walls and human-sized gaming installations.
As evening set in, the Main Stage came alive with electrifying performances by Stebin Ben, the Mahadevan Brothers, Backstage Siblings, and indie favourite Last Minute India, turning the grounds into a massive celebration of music and shared emotion.
Reflecting on the weekend, Festival Coordinator Dr. Alok Shah said, “This edition of GYF ran on the heartbeat of young volunteers. Their passion shaped the spirit of the festival. It may have lasted two days, but the shift it created feels far bigger.”
Young attendees echoed the sentiment. Anushree Sawant, a young professional, shared, “GYF felt like a space that finally understands us. I walked in as myself, and walked out as a more awakened version of myself.”
Neil Ramchandani added, “Pujya Gurudevshri’s discourse was genuinely transformative. You could feel the whole audience absorbing every word. This is the kind of platform the world needs.”
With Mumbai still buzzing from the experience, the Global Youth Festival now prepares for its next chapter — heading to Kolkata on 14 December 2025, before making its international debut in New York next year.
