The 41st National Youth Day was celebrated with great fervor at the Ramakrishna Mission High School, Visakhapatnam, on 12th January 2025. The occasion coincided with the school’s Annual Day. The celebrations commenced with the ceremonial garlanding of Swami Vivekananda’s photo in the school and his statue at the Ashrama.
The main program, held at Vivekananda Hall, began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and floral tributes to the Holy Trinity. Dr. Shankhabrata Bagchi, IPS, ADGP, and Police Commissioner of Visakhapatnam, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while Prof. D. Surya Prakash Rao, Vice-Chancellor of DSNLU, Visakhapatnam, served as the Guest of Honor. Sri M. Satyanarayana Raju and Swami Swasamvedyananda also shared the dais.
The distinguished guests addressed the gathering, emphasizing the theme “Swami Vivekananda – Need of the Age.” Their insightful speeches inspired the students, parents, and teachers. The event featured a variety of cultural programs presented by the school students, which were much appreciated by the audience. Swami Swasamvedyananda, the Secretary, welcomed the guests and introduced them to the audience, while Smt. Prasanna Rani, the Principal, proposed the vote of thanks. The program concluded with the distribution of sweets to all.
Prior to the main celebrations:
- Railway Station Homage: Earlier in the morning, a cut-out of Swami Vivekananda was displayed at the Visakhapatnam Railway Station, specifically at the VIP Reserve Lounge on Platform No. 1. Railway station authorities paid their respects by offering Pushpanjali to Swamiji’s cut-out.
- Youth Programme at DSNLU: On 4th January 2025, the Ashrama organized a Youth Programme at Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU). Prof. D. Surya Prakash Rao, Vice-Chancellor of DSNLU, was the Guest of Honor, and Sri N. Sridhar, IRS, Principal Commissioner of GST & Customs, Visakhapatnam, was the Chief Guest. Over 100 participants, including law students, junior lawyers, and teaching staff, attended the program, which focused on the theme “Man-Making & Nation Building Education – Swami Vivekananda.”
- Visit by Justice N. Kotiswar Singh: On 10th January 2025, Honorable Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, Judge of the Supreme Court of India and an alumnus of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Purulia, West Bengal, visited the Ashrama School. He addressed the students and staff, emphasizing the enduring relevance of Swami Vivekananda’s teachings in the contemporary world.
The celebrations of National Youth Day at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Visakhapatnam, were a resounding success, effectively commemorating the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda and inspiring the youth to strive for personal and societal transformation.