Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary celebrations from next month

Kolkata, Dec 21 (IANS) Lectures, seminars and cultural programmes, aimed at propagating Swami Vivekananda's message across the country to mark his 150th birth anniversary celebrations, will be launched by the Vivekananda Kendra here from Jan 12.

The year-long celebrations end Jan 12, 2014.

"Swami Vivekananda said 'Rise, Awake and Stop not till the goal is reached'. We all know this but to introduce his enlightened words to the masses in a fresh manner, we are launching the campaign," said Swami Purnatmananda, secretary, Ramakrishna Mission and Swami Vivekananda's Ancestral House and Cultural Centre, Kolkata.

The programmes that begins on the Swami's 150th birth anniversary Jan 12, 2013 will see participation by youngsters across the country at the state as well as district level in discussions, lectures, contests and processions, said organisers.

"There will be programmes involving village people to disseminate his teachings. In February there will be a nationwide drive to pay homage to the Sun god.

"Besides there will be cultural programmes themed on his teachings. We will focus on the youth to spread his message," said Kishore Tokekar, national coordinator, Swami Vivekananda Sardha Shati Samaroh, Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari.

Swami Vivekananda, the most famous disciple of the 19th century saint Ramakrishna Paramhansa, was born Jan 12, 1863. He founded the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission and played a key role in introducing Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the western world.

He is best known for his inspiring speech at the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago in 1893.