National Youth Day (India)

National Youth Day, also known as Vivekananda Jayanti, is celebrated on 12 January being the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. In 1984 the Government of India declared this day as National Youth Day and since 1985 the event is celebrated in India every year.

National youth Day
Official nameSwami Vivekananda
Observed byIndia and RKM branch centres worldwide
SignificanceBirthday anniversary of Swami Vivekananda
Begins1985ref>http://www.odisha.gov.in/portal/LIWPL/event_archive/Events_Archives/32National_Youth_Day.pdf</ref>
Date12 January
Next time12 January 2022 (2022-01-12)
FrequencyAnnual

History

It was a decision of Government of India taken in 1984 to celebrate the birthday of great Swami Vivekananda, i.e. 12 January, as National Youth Day every year. The Government of India quoted that ' the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth Day.'[1]

On 12 January 2013, Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told in his address at the inauguration of four-year-long celebrations of Swami Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary:[2]

What Gandhiji said captures the great importance of spreading Swami Vivekananda's ideas and ideals among the youth in our country today. He personified the eternal energy of the youth and their restless quest for truth. It is entirely fitting that the Government of India has declared 12th January, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, as National Youth Day. We must work to rekindle the eternal message of this great patriot and son of India.

Celebration and activities
Celebration of Swami Vivekananda's 156th birthday at Baranagar Ramakrishna Mission of West Bengal, India in 2019

The National Youth Day is observed all over India at schools and colleges, with processions, speeches, music, youth conventions, seminars, Yogasanas, presentations, competitions in essay-writing, recitations and sports on 12 January every year. Swami Vivekananda's lectures and writings, deriving their inspiration from Indian spiritual tradition and the broad outlook of his Master Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. These were the source of inspiration and have motivated numerous youth organizations, study circles and service projects involving the youth.[3]

Swami Vivekananda's birthday (12 January 1863), according to the Indian Almanac (Vishuddha Siddhanta Almanac) is on Pausha Krishna Saptami tithi, which falls on different dates in the English Calendar every year (generally in the month of January). This is observed in various centres of Ramakrishna Math and Mission in a traditional Hindu manner which includes mangal arati (a kind of worship practised in India, especially by Hindu people), special worship, homa (fire-ritual), meditation, devotional songs, religious discourses and sandhya-arati (vesper service at evenings).

References
  1. "National Youth Day". National Youth Day 12th January. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  2. "PM's address at the Inauguration of four Year-Long Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda's 150th Birth Anniversary". Indian Government. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  3. "National Youth Day, India" (PDF). National Youth Day. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
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