Swami Vivekanand's 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrated

Swami Vivekanand's 150th birth anniversary was observed on 12 January 2011. Vivekanad’s birth anniversary is celebrated as National Youth Day. The Vivekananda Kendra organised various programmes in Nashik beginning 12 January to commemorate Swami Vivekanand's 150th birth anniversary in all its branches throughout the country to spread his rich thoughts and literature. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh inaugurated the nationwide celebrations to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in New Delhi. The Delhi Ramakrishna Mission organised the events jointly with a government-appointed national committee to mark the ocassion.

Vivekanand was born in the Datta family of Calcutta in 1863. He had found his guru in Sri Ramakrishna, who became his master, allayed his doubts, gave him God vision, and transformed him into sage and prophet with authority to teach. He traversed the world teaching the Vedanta philosophy.

In September 1893, Vivekanand had addressed the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. His address that began sisters and brothers of America electrified the audience and won him and the country wide accolade. Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago address was a proud moment in India’s history and it heralded the arrival of one of India’s greatest spiritual leaders on the world stage.
Swami Vivekanand dedicated his life to the service of his motherland and to the spiritual awakening of Indians. He also worked to instil pride in his countrymen in their cultural heritage as well as worked to build a national consciousness that was modern, rational and universal.

The great spiritual leader who founded the Ramakrishna Math and Mission breathed his last on 4 July 1902.