The birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was observed across the state with great enthusiasm.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid rich tribute to swamiji. In her X handle she said Swamiji’s work to uplift the downtrodden and preservation of communal harmony still inspire the people.
Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamul Congress national general secretary paid rich tribute to Swamiji after visiting the great monk and youth icon’s house during the day.
The day was declared as the national youth day. Seminars, workshops and rallies carrying the photographs of Swamiji were held across the city.
Alambazar Math where the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna used to stay has been thoroughly renovated and thrown open to the people.
Swamiji stayed at the math after returning from the West in 1897. His brother disciples had stayed here.
A special puja was held at Belur Math this morning.
Udbodhan, the Bengali publishing house of the Ramakrishna Mission gave concession to the books on Ramakrishna Vivekananda Vedanta literature.
A programme to commemorate Swamiji’s birthday was held at the monk’s ancestral house on Gour Mohan Mukherjee Street. Swami Jnanalokananda, secretary of Swamiji’s ancestral house urged the students to study Swamiji’s life and works and work for the downtrodden.
The day was observed with enthusiasm at the Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira Ekalavya Model Residential School in Jhargram. The school is meant for Scheduled Tribe students. Swami Sumanashanandaji of Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park urged the students to concentrate on their studies. Akanksha Bhaskar, district magistrate of Jhargram spoke at the meeting.
The day was observed with due solemnity at Sri Ramakrishna Kanyagurukul, Jhargram.
Several clubs organised football tournaments, physical fitness shows and blood donation camps.
Abhishek Banerjee today posted on his X handle: “On the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, I bow in reverence to a towering soul whose thoughts continue to illuminate India’s moral and intellectual conscience.
“His call for strength rooted in compassion, for faith anchored in reason and for service driven by empathy remains profoundly relevant even today. Swamiji reminded us that to serve humanity is to serve the divine.
“At a time when divisions are amplified and identities weaponised, Swami Ji’s message of universal brotherhood and harmony among faiths stands as a timeless guide.”