National Youth Day is also known as Vivekananda Jayanti which is celebrated on 12th January every year, the birthday of Swami Vivekanananda.
In the year 1984, the Government declared 12th January as National Youth Day in India and from 1985 the event is celebrated every year. The Government of India quoted, ”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”.
Swami Vivekananda was born on 12th January 1863 in Kolkata, which is observed in various centres of Ramkrishna Math and Missions in Hindu tradition involving arati, homa, meditation, devotional songs, religious discourses, sandhya arati. It is celebrated all over India in schools, colleges with proccessions, speeches, competitions, etc on 12th January every year.
Vivekananda is regarded as India’s greatest leaders and believers of youth power. He was an ardent disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
Some of the famous quotes of Swami Vivekananda includes –
- We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far
- All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.
- Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached.
- The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves.