National Youth Day
What is National Youth Day?
“Arise! Awake! And stop not until the goal is reached.”
These words by Swami Vivekananda inspire and motivate us to take charge of our own life and the power we as human beings possess to this day. To honour the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda National Youth Day is celebrated every year in India on 12 January. Swami Vivekananda was one of India’s great spiritual leaders and an ardent believer in youth potential. He played a vital role in the revival of Hinduism in India and is celebrated as one of the greatest social leaders in the country, and all over the world.
Swami Vivekananda’s lectures and writings are a source of a great and powerful source of inspiration for today’s young minds. He derived inspiration from Indian spiritual tradition and the broad outlook of his Master Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and his influential personality and teachings have motivated numerous youth organizations, study circles and service projects involving the youth.
The history behind the National Youth Day celebration
Swami Vivekananda was the founder of Ramkrishna Mission (RKM), established on 1 May 1897 at Belur Math in Kolkata, India. It is a Hindu religious and spiritual organization which forms the core of a worldwide spiritual movement known as the Ramakrishna Movement or the Vedanta Movement. The Math and the Mission are the two key organizations, both founded by Swami Vivekananda. The Math primarily focuses on spiritual training and the propagation of the movement’s teachings.
The Mission is a humanitarian and spiritual organisation which carries out medical, relief and educational programs. It is because of his numerous contributions to uplifting Indian society, and the way that he had advocated for the youth potential and inspired the young minds of the world, the government of India declared his birthday National Youth Day in 1984. Ever since then, the day is celebrated with great zeal by the younger generations and followers of Swami Vivekananda and Paramhansa Ramakrishna alike.
How is National Youth Day Celebrated?
Every year on 12 January National Youth Day is celebrated at schools and colleges all over India. The events include rallies or processions, plays, speeches, music, youth conventions, seminars, Yogasana programmes, and various sorts of presentations. Essay-writing, recitations and sports competitions are also organized.
In the Ramakrishna Mission’s centres spread all across the countries, the day is celebrated in a traditional Hindu manner, including arati, which is a kind of worship practised in India, especially by Hindu people; homa or yagna i.e. fire-ritual; group meditation programmes etc. People sing and listen to devotional songs. Lectures and debates on religious topics are conducted as well. Sandhya-arati is a key point of these celebrations where everybody at the events joins in and enjoys the day’s end with warmth and cordiality by paying tributes to the deities.
In which countries is National Youth Day celebrated?
National Youth Day is primarily celebrated in India. However, it is not limited to just the citizens of India. The day can be celebrated by people of other countries as well who had, in some way, been inspired by Swami Vivekananda, or by those who believe in the power of the youth of their country and the great potential for development this particular age group possess.
To end it, here is another inspirational Quote by Swami Vivekananda:
“Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.”
