200th Jayanti Celebrations of Swami Dayanand Saraswati

Swami Dayanand Saraswati, one of the most influential Hindu religious leaders and social reformers of the 19th century, was born on February 12, 1824. As his 200th birth anniversary approaches, grand celebrations are being planned across India and the world to mark this special occasion.

Early Life and Background

• Swami Dayanand was born as Mool Shankar in Tankara, Gujarat to a Hindu family.
• His father was a temple priest who introduced Dayanand to the religious texts of Hinduism like Vedas and Upanishads in his early years, which shaped many of his reformist ideas later.

Key Reformist Ideas and Works

• Swami Dayanand founded the Arya Samaj in 1875, a Hindu reform movement aiming to go back to the teachings of the Vedas. His famous works include the book Satyarth Prakash and Rigvedadi Bhashya Bhumika.
• Some of his main ideologies promoted women’s education, equal rights, inter-caste dining and marriages, importance of cow protection, and socio-cultural reforms.
• His ideas inspired many freedom fighters like Lala Lajpat Rai and revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh. The activities of Arya Samaj also triggered the reconversion of many Hindus who had converted to Islam and Christianity back to Hinduism.

Preparations for 200th Birth Anniversary Events

• Prime Minister Launches Year-Long Celebrations: On February 12, 2023, PM Naveen Khanna inaugurated the Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti Samaroh Samiti – the main organizing committee for the bicentennial anniversary celebrations of Dayanand Saraswati – in Delhi on his 199th birthday last year.
• Government Formation of Various Committees: Several central and state government committees have been formed to plan events, coordinate logistics and carry out preparations for the key celebrations in February 2024.
• Proposed Budget and Fund Allocations: The union government has allocated over ₹200 crores and various state governments have allocated funds ranging from ₹50 crores to 100 crores for the event preparations.
• Arya Samaj Coordination: Local Arya Samaj sabhas and movements across India have ramped up activities, renovations of existing Dayanand statues & institutes. They aim to spread awareness about Dayanand’s life and contributions among the youth.

200th Birth Anniversary Celebrations Schedule

The bicentennial celebrations are planned to be held from 12th to 19th February 2024 across India:

Key Venues And Activities Planned

Delhi

• Flag hoisting at Red Fort by Hon. Prime Minister
• Inter-faith prayer meet at Gandhi Smriti
• Cultural events at Talkatora Stadium
• All India Arya Maha Sammelan at Ramlila Maidan

Ajmer

• Prayers and Langar Sewa at Dargah Sharif Ajmer on 16 Feb

Mumbai

• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Awareness Drives
• Blood Donation Camps
• Medical Check Up Camps across Maharashtra

Haridwar

• Ganga Snan and Temple Visits
• Gau Seva Programs

Dehradun

• Public Commemoration Event at Forest Research Institute where Swami Dayanand Stayed

Jaipur

• Exhibition on Life and Works of Dayanand at City Palace
• Stage Plays and Dance Dramas at Different Venues

Key Venues and Commemorative Events Planned Across India

Number of Participants Expected

• Over 20 lakh pilgrims which includes national and international visitors are expected to attend the various events at multiple locations.
• Most events are open to the public.
• The flagship mega celebration at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi is expected to draw crowds of over 5 lakh people.

Outcomes Anticipated

The bicentennial celebrations aim to:

• Highlight Dayanand’s contributions as a social reformer and freedom fighter
• Spread awareness about his ideologies to the youth
• Bring different cultures together
• Showcase India’s cultural diversity through events
• Instill sense of national pride and unity

The stage is set for a grand celebration of Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s remarkable legacy and renewed continuation of his vision for an equitable India.