Swami Vivekananda’s 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations

NEW DELHI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The nation is celebrating the birth anniversary of the great spiritual and social saint Swami Vivekananda. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the nationwide celebrations today in honor of the Neo-Vedantist’s 150th birth anniversary. Prior to the birth anniversary of the saint on January 12, the Prime minister has ensured that a national committee be formed which would oversee the necessary arrangements to mark the birth festivity of the saint. The national committee has the Prime Minister himself acting as its chairman to govern the preparations.

The Prime Minister at the formal inauguration of the ceremony also released a book titled “Awakening India” where the writings and teachings of the great philosopher has been put in. The writings in the book are a special collection of Swami Vivekananda’s teachings which he had specially devised for the youth. Hailed as one of the greatest youth icons that the world had ever seen the great saint’s birthday also marks the “National Youth Day”. Years back in 1984, the government of India had declared this particular day to be observed as the “National Youth Day”. In honor of Swami Vivekananda, a contest named “Future Leader Discovery Contest” will be held this year for the school students. In the next year the contest will also be thrown open for the college students.

The day continues to witness a number of mutts and other religious organizations observing the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda through various recitations of the saint’s teachings, songs, bhajans, seminars, competitions and other activities. The Ramakrishna Mission has arranged for a series of cultural programs in the honor of their founder’s birth anniversary.