Jammu, January 12: National Youth Day was today celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Ramakrishna Mission, Jammu and local school children at the Vivekananda Auditorium in the mission premises at Udheywala, Jammu.
The celebration was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Shri Anshul Garg, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The programme started with Aarti Pujan and chanting Vedic paths by the monks.
In his opening remarks, Chief Guest Anshul Garg said that Swami Vivekananda believed that if human beings are persistent enough, they have the potential to overcome any hurdle, when he said, “Arise! Awake! And stop not until the goal is reached”. This is a golden teaching by Swami Vivekananda where he insisted that persistence is the only key to success, he added.
While acknowledging the unparalleled emotional connection with the Ramakrishna Mission, he lauded the mission for emphasizing the importance of blending tradition with modernity. He said that the hallmark of Vivekananda’s doctrine is that while it is deeply embedded in India’s past heritage, at the same time, it envisages the vision of future India several decades ahead.
He also exemplified the 1893 World Parliament of Religions in Chicago where Vivekananda represented and delivered his famous sayings on self-confidence, education and success, religion, and many more. Terming Youth as one of the greatest demographic dividend, the Chief Guest observed that about 50 percent of the population of India is below the age of 30 years and are capable of producing nectar of growth and development for the country in the next 25 years termed as Amritkaal by the Hon'ble Prime Minister.
Chief Guest who is also Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB quoted Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul which was conceptualized as a project by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board with the aim of promoting traditional Sanskrit / Vedic knowledge in tandem with conventional education where the students studying from class 6th to Shastri in fully residential institution are being provided education, boarding, lodging, books, uniforms etc. by the Shrine Board totally free of cost. He said that the Shrine Board under the chairmanship of Hon’ble LG is committed towards promotion of Sanskrit language and sanatan dharma through institutes like SMVD Gurukul.
The Guest of Honour on the occasion was Suraj Singh Rathore, Chief Education Officer, Jammu, besides, graced by Shri Suresh Kumar Sharma, President, Managing Committee, Ramakrishna Mission, Jammu and Member, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The Vote of thanks was given by Swami Yajnandharananda ji, Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission’s Jammu Ashram.
A gathering of about 450 persons including students, faculty from various schools, devotees and local people were present for the celebration at Vivekananda Auditorium. An impressive presentation of Bhajans, Stuti and lectures by the students were among the main highlights of the event. The Chief Guest also felicitated the students who have excelled in various extra-curricular activities during the event.
