India reverberates with youthful energy every year on January 12th as it commemorates National Youth Day. The nation unites to celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, a lodestar whose values and principles continue to inspire myriads of young minds since 1984. As tradition would have it, the celebration is marked by an annual National Youth Festival extending from January 12th to 16th. This year’s theme, “Viksit Bharat@ 2047: Yuva ke liye, yuva ke dwara”, aims to underline the active role that the youth can play in shaping the nation.
Vivekananda: The Torchbearer of Hinduism
Swami Vivekananda is hailed as one of the most influential Indian monks who brought the western world’s attention to Hinduism. Devoting his life as a disciple to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Vivekananda ardently pushed for national integration in colonial India. His profound ideologies led to a revival of Hinduism in the country, and for this, he is fondly celebrated each year.
The Legacy of Vivekananda
Beyond his spiritual teachings, Vivekananda was a pillar of passion and patriotism. His philosophies, which amalgamated materialism with spirituality, aimed to encourage individual development alongside societal growth. He viewed the youth as a key driving force for this transformation. His forward-thinking beliefs emphasized harnessing the power of youth to effect meaningful societal changes, thus forming the essence of the National Youth Day celebrations.
National Youth Day: Celebrating the Spirit of Youth
Since 1984, India has marked National Youth Day on Vivekananda’s birth anniversary. The day serves several purposes: remembering Vivekananda’s contribution, reflecting on his messages, and more importantly, urging the youth to embody the values that he held dear. The aim is not simply to remember the man, but to live out his principles and beliefs.
National Youth Festival: A Platform for Young Talents
The National Youth Festival forms a crucial part of the National Youth Day celebrations. Held from January 12th to 16th each year, it amplifies the spirit of the national event by engaging India’s youth in various cultural and competitive activities. The festival serves as a platform for young talents to showcase their skills and abilities and learn from each other. It also fosters a sense of camaraderie among diverse groups of youths from across the nation.
The Theme of National Youth Day 2022
Each year, the National Youth Festival is centred around a theme that encapsulates an aspect of national importance or youth’s role in nation-building. This year’s theme, “Viksit Bharat@ 2047: Yuva ke liye, yuva ke dwara” focuses on the youth as key stakeholders in shaping India’s future. It aims to inspire them to take the reins and lead the country towards prosperity by 2047, the year India will celebrate a century of its independence.
India’s National Youth Day is much more than an annual observance—it’s a celebration of the potential that lies within every young Indian. It reminds the youth of their duty towards the nation and urges them to step up and contribute to its growth and development, just as Swami Vivekananda envisioned.