July 17, 2013: Anoopam Mission has a lot to celebrate.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the Hindu mission's temple, Shree Swaminarayan Spiritual and Cultural Center in North Whitehall Township, the 20th anniversary of its local summer youth camps and the 75th birthday of its founder, Jashbhai Patel, who is better known as Sahebji.

The mission, a socio-religious nonprofit, is marking the milestones with a series of events that begin today and wrap up Tuesday, according to Shree Patel, a spokesman for the mission.

Sahebji is based in India, but as the mission's global leader he spends much of his time traveling among temples in that country, England and the U.S., Patel said. In addition to the Lehigh Valley temple, there are others in Florida and California, on top of centers elsewhere in the world, he said.

First up in the weeklong celebration is an opening ceremony from 4 to 6 p.m. today. As many as 500 people are expected to attend, including Parkland School District Superintendent Richard Sniscak, Patel said.

Dramatic performances are planned 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday, he said, followed by Mahayagna, an ancient offering and purification ceremony scheduled from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday. Between 300 and 400 couples are slated to attend the ceremony, Patel said.

The 20th annual Patotsav Vidhi, a reconsecration of the temple's deities, is scheduled 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, he said. John Callahan, Bethlehem's mayor and the Democratic candidate for Northampton County executive, is slated to attend a cultural dance showcase planned 8 to 10 p.m. that night, he said.

In addition, the mission is presenting "Shalin Manav Ratna" humanitarian awards to Drs. Sudhir Parikh and Nilesh Patel during festivities that run from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Shree Patel said.

Parikh is an internationally recognized allergist also known for his publishing work, efforts to improve U.S.-India relations and philanthropic endeavors, he said, and Nilesh Patel is the chief of minimally invasive robotic cardiac surgery at Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark.

As many as 2,000 people, including U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent and a representative from state Sen. Pat Browne's office, are expected to attend Sahebji's birthday gala, which is planned 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, Shree Patel said.

"It's a huge event," he said of the birthday party. "They're coming from around the world."

All of the events this week and next will be held at the 2120 Clearview Road temple, Patel said.

Contact Lehigh County suburbs reporter Precious Petty at 484-894-3854 or ppetty@express-times.com.

Source: lehighvalleylive.com, DT. July 17, 2013.