New Delhi: India every year celebrates National Youth Day on January 12, the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
This day is also known as the Yuva Diwas, as it marks his ideas on how the youth should work hard and contribute to their country’s overall development while upholding their values.
Swami Vivekananda was born in Kolkata on January 12, 1863.
In 1984, the Indian government took the decision to celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s birthday as National Youth Day in an attempt to inspire, ignite, and empower the nation’s youth.
Swami Vivekananda was an Indian Hindu monk. He was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the western world.
Swami Vivekanand highlighted the importance of the contribution of youth to the country. Swami Vivekanand is known for thinking out of the box and speaking of his mind. He explained how to channelize the youth’s energy and potential of the youth into concrete concepts. His outstanding speeches always motivated the country and youth.
Swami Vivekananda was the chief disciple of 19th century mystic and yogi Ramakrishna Paramhansa. He founded the Ramakrishna Math, a monastic order based on his guru’s teachings in Kolkata and a worldwide spiritual movement known as the Ramakrishna Mission based on the ancient Hindu philosophy of Vedanta.
Vivekananda is credited with contributing to a revival of modern Hinduism and inspiring nationalist consciousness during colonial rule. But he is best known for his famous 1893 speech where he introduced Hinduism to the Western world in Chicago.
On this day, states in India hold events, each with a different theme than the previous year. For instance, on this day, Uttar Pradesh hosts a two-day event called “Mission Bhartiyam” and “Basti Yuvo Mahotsav” to inspire young people with Swami Vivekananda’s teachings.
Similarly, some organisations observe National Youth Day by hosting prayers, devotional programmes, meditation sessions, and other activities. National Youth Seminars are also held in local clubs and educational institutes.
