Global Youth Festival – The Mumbai Edition View Photos This winter, Mumbai witnessed more than a festival – it witnessed a cultural shift. The sixth edition of the Global Youth Festival (GYF) transformed the Jio World Garden into a vibrant arena of purpose, passion, and youth power. With diverse experiences across multiple arenas, GYF 2025 stood out as the festival’s most ambitious chapter yet. From wisdom and wellbeing to art, adventure, culture, music, and social impact, it felt less like an event and more like a movement – immersive, inspiring, and entirely youth-driven. Backed by the Government of Maharashtra’s Departments of Sports & Youth Affairs and Cultural Affairs, this edition pushed every boundary, creating standout moments that will stay with the youth forever. Auspiciousness filled the air as chants of Param Krupalu Dev’s hallowed name resonated during the inauguration of GYF 2025. Hundreds of youth gathered as sevaks ceremoniously carried the sacred chitrapats of Bhagwan Mahavirswami, Param Krupalu Dev, and Pujya Gurudevshri into the venue. The Festival was a dynamic blend of learning, creativity, volunteering joy, and inner transformation. Participants thronged the venue as the doors opened each day at 2 pm. With a plethora of activities to explore, new friends to be made, scrumptious Jain cuisine options to be relished and elevation to be experienced the youth just wanted time to freeze so that they could take it all in! WISDOM AND INSPIRATION The heart of GYF 2025 was the Wisdom Masterclass by Pujya Gurudevshri on the evening of day one. It became the spiritual axis of the festival, inviting thousands to slow down, absorb timeless wisdom, and gently realign with purpose. Pujya Gurudevshri inspired the young generation to take a ‘U-Turn Within’. He offered three fundamental questions to begin one’s spiritual pursuit – questions simple in words yet transformative in impact. What do you truly want? Where are you going? How are you feeling with whatever you are doing? Three questions, one turning point. The questions became the compass, the guiding tool for each and every one present. He urged the youth to reflect on them deeply and steer the direction of their inner life. The second day witnessed a Wisdom Masterclass by Atmarpit Nemiji – Personal Secretary to Pujya Gurudevshri and Vice President of the Mission – on Design Your Life. He shared a striking insight inspired by a simple everyday act: unlocking a phone with Face ID. He conveyed that the key to one’s happiness may simply be oneself. He explained how our inner algorithm is constantly learning from every thought and choice. His message was clear: Don’t let negativity brew. Choose positivity. Click wisely. DIVERSE EXPERIENCE ARENAS Innerverse Arena ‘Step into the Innerverse’ was an immersive dome experience where massive LED walls and a 360° surround sound environment transported one into a whole new world of visual wonder. A never-before-seen fusion of technology, creativity, and spirituality, the Innerverse took visitors beyond the ordinary – where they could feel, explore, and reconnect with the universe within. The Pulse Pavilion, a rare no-mobile sanctuary, invited visitors to rediscover the comfort of silence. Arena of Love & Care The festival’s socially conscious spirit found expression through the Arena of Love & Care with initiatives such as Green Planet, Empower Zone, Health Hub, Paw Project, Community Glow-Up, Kindness Factory, and Learning Lab which included activities like Nature’s Tableware, Eco-Stationery, and The Cap Edit; each reinforcing that joy deepens when shared with communities. These spaces not only inspired thoughtful participation but also encouraged youth to take small yet meaningful actions for a better world. They transformed awareness into responsibility, and responsibility into a collective movement of compassion. Arena of Mastery The Aroma Pavilion with Blue Tokai offered an equally captivating experience, guiding participants through a mindful ritual of storytelling, aromas, and brewing – awakening memory, senses, and presence all at once. Interactive zones such as the Play Pods invited guests to explore with curiosity and spontaneity – leaving the festival not just entertained, but enriched with experiences, memories, and creations of their own. Arena of Culture Creativity found its own path within the Arena of Culture and the Craft Pavilion, where tufting, pottery, ceramics, fluid art, resin work, charm crafting, and colour-play studios invited participants to immerse their hands and hearts in the joy of making. The Jam Hut became a cosy hub of new voices and spontaneous performances, celebrating unfiltered musical expression. A high-voltage workshop by Tiger Shroff’s Matrix Dance Academy too was savoured by the participants. Arena of Wellbeing Arena of Wellbeing unfolded as a space of restoration and inner alignment through Aerial Yoga, the soothing Indē Wild Champi Experience, Wellness Manifestation Activation, and deeply grounding stress-management session by Atmarpit Neilbhai. Together, they nurtured strength with softness, posture with presence. The Flow Pavilion brought together a powerful mix of holistic practices, namely energising sessions like Breathwork for Love and Kindness, Supernova Yoga Vinyasa Flow, QiGong Movements for Mental Focus, Breathwork Alchemy for Stress Management, The Mindshift: Negative to Positive Thoughts, Aroma Therapy Bath, 2026 Intention Journaling, Drum Circle, Connecting Food, Mind, and Body, FlexBar Flow: Yoga Pilates, New Year Gratitude Fix, Power Plate: Plants, Protein, Planet and Sonic Gong Ritual. Arena of Adventure Adventurous spirits thrived in experiences such as the exhilarating Outdoor Bouldering, Great Inflate Run, Neon Karting, Neon Pickleball, Mini Golf, and an array of life-sized games – each offering play, challenge, and friendly competition. Laughter and cheers filled every corner, making the fun truly unforgettable. PANEL DISCUSSIONS Learn. Lead. Last A Strategic Playbook for Today’s Corporate Leaders Renowned financial expert Nilesh Shah – Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management moderated a corporate playbook panel featuring Kaushik Shaparia – CEO, Deutsche Bank India and Emerging Asia; Damodar Mall – CEO, Reliance Retail and Sarang Lakhanee – Executive Director, Vishvaraj Environment; all sharing insights with a generation hungry for authenticity and inspiration. See. Speak. Shatter A Journey Beyond the Ceiling The Women Achievers’ Panel had celebrities like Malaika Arora – Actor and Entrepreneur; Dipali Goenka – CEO, Welspun Living; Diipa Büller-Khosla – Founder, Indē Wild and Mithila Palkar – Actor and Speaker who had a candid discussion which benefitted the youngsters. Their stories of resilience, authenticity, and fearless leadership encouraged the youth to rise beyond limitations and create their own paths. Pause. Breathe. Reset A Holistic Guide to Inner Balance, Vitality, and Wellbeing This discussion featured distinguished voices in Wellness and Health like Sarvesh Shashi – Founder, Sarva Yoga; Saloni Anand – Co-founder, Traya Health; Dimple Jangda – Founder, Prana Healthcare and Karan Sawhney – Co-founder, Tribe who shared their expertise and insights with the eager young health enthusiasts. Complementing these sessions was a suite of transformative practices like the Golden Hour Sound Healing which was a large-format, open-air sound healing session designed for deep calm and reset. Another unique experience was Thousand Suns Electronic Yoga Flow merging yoga, breath, and an EDM soundscape. CONCERTS As dusk settled, the festival erupted in musical brilliance – with high-octane concerts rocking the stage on both evenings. Siddharth and Shivam, the Mahadevan Brothers, delivered a powerhouse performance, incorporating mastery, melody, and magic in every note. Last Minute India amped up the atmosphere with their spirited pop-rock sound that had the arena jumping. Shivanshu Soni mesmerised the audience with his electrifying fusion dance; his precision, fluidity, and powerful stage presence leaving the crowd spellbound. Inventive experiences like Bhajan Clubbing with the Backstage Siblings blended devotion with modern beats, giving age-old renditions a contemporary twist. Stebin Ben captivated audiences with his soulful voice and magnetic presence, keeping the crowd swaying till the last beat. EXPRESSING APPRECIATION Supporters Dr Yogesh Lakhani, CMD, Bright Outdoor Media Ltd. and Tehmasp Printer, Global CEO, International Gemological Institute were warmly felicitated on stage for their generous support. The Global Youth Festival 2025 was co-powered by International Gemological Institute and held in collaboration with the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra. Key partners included Kotak Mutual Fund, Bright Outdoor Media, PAC Cosmetics, 1 Financial Code, Vegan First, Paras Defence and Space Technologies, Volini, and Avanse Financial Services. The festival was further supported by Welspun Living, Marathon Developers, Jewelex India, Fredun Pharmaceuticals, Wellman Vitabiotics, Sheetal Ice Cream, Zest Outdoor Media, Fast&Up, Indē Wild, Blue Tokai, Selection Centre Sports, BIG FM, and Athiva Hotels – a collective that helped shape an event built on community, culture, and youth-driven energy. SUCCESS STORIES Partners, participants, and volunteers alike came forward with exhilarating personal experiences. Nilesh Shah – Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management affirmed, “GYF clearly results into unbundling of energy. I believe the GYF impact will carry with the youth. It will give a long-lasting memory. With change of time, with change of generation, you also need to change method of communication. 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”. Neil Ramchandani, a participant, shared “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.” Anushree Sawant, a young professional, said, “GYF felt like a space that finally understands us. I walked in as myself, and walked out as a more awakened version of myself.” Dr Alok Shah, Festival Coordinator, expressed “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.” MEDIA COVERAGE The Global Youth Festival received wide-ranging media attention across prominent publications. Coverage spanned esteemed outlets such as The Blunt Times, Bombay Times, Bollywood Helpline, Gujarati Midday, Event FAQs, Free Press Journal, and The Tribune. Together, these platforms highlighted the scale, spirit, and impact of GYF, amplifying its reach to diverse audiences across the country. About 300 influencers and content creators too attended the event and favourably took note of its brilliance. The Global Youth Festival 2025 stood as a radiant convergence of self-discovery, purposeful action, and collective spirit. Its thoughtfully designed spaces and experiences created a landscape where youth could pause, reflect, learn, and express with clarity and confidence. More than just a festival, it became an awakening – an invitation to grow, to realign with purpose, and to step into the most expansive version of oneself!
