Govt to hold slew of programmes to mark Swamiji's birthday

Kolkata: The Bengal government has organised statewide programmes to celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on Friday.

In a bid to pay respect to Swamiji, the state government has declared a holiday on January 12 in all its offices.

On Friday, Aroop Biswas, the state Youth Services and Sports minister, will offer floral tribute at the statue of Swami Vivekananda at Hospital Road.

Vivek Chetna Utsav will also be held at all the blocks of the state in which different competitions among students and youth will take place.

The Utsav was inaugurated on January 10 by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and will continue till January 12. Besides various competitions, character building programmes are also being organised for students. The Mamata Banerjee government has given Rs 30,000 to each block to organise the same.

It may be recalled that on Wednesday, Banerjee announced the decision of her government to take up character building programmes in schools as part of the celebration of 125 years of Swami Vivekananda's Chicago address in the Parliament of World's Religion.

A committee headed by state Education minister Partha Chatterjee has also been set up to take up the character building programmes in schools. Moreover, to mark the same, a cultural programme will be organised at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan in which there will be a participation of around 1 lakh students and youth from all over the state.

Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda will be observed across the state through various events.

It may be mentioned that the state government has also formed a committee to prepare a roadmap for a year-long programme to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sister Nivedita.

A set of programmes has been taken up to celebrate it and include bravery awards in the name of Sister for girls.

The state government will also observe the death anniversary of Surya Sen and floral tributes will be paid at his statue near Calcutta High Court.