1863-2013

Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

SAMKALP DIVAS

Samkalp Divas was observed all over the country on 25th Of December 2012. This day has a special significance in the life of Swami Vivekananda and eventually in the life of this nation of ours. On this very day, after long itineration through this vast country Swamiji reached the southernmost tip and sat on rock, which is known today as "Vivekananda Rock Memorial" and hit upon a plan for the rejuvenation

of India. Samkalp Divas was observed all across the country with the intent to contemplate and internalize the mission of Swamiji and resolve to strive for the actualization of the same. An image of Swami Vivekananda in meditative posture was kept in front and a glowing lamp gave the entire atmosphere a touch of serenity . A voice-over of Swamiji's inspiring thoughts was played at the background, all the participants set quietly while meditating upon the message.

In this celebration more then 7,00,000 people participated in over 9000 programmes. Though the programme was mainly targeted for the Karyakartaas, yet participation of ordinary citizens has been observed in every state. Average participation of women has been over 13 % at all India level. Women participation in states like West Bengal, Assam, Delhi, Uttarakhand, J&K was however much above the national average. West Bengal recorded 50% women participation in this celebration.

At a Glance

PrantTotal

District Karyakram Presence Man Women Organisation

42 874 9,648 7,21,908* 4,96,969 97,915 199* Participation details are not available from all the prant

Launching ProgrammeGrand inaugural programme of Swami Vivekananda Sardha Shati Samaroh was held at Siri Fort Auditorium at New Delhi on Friday, 11th January 2013. Over 2400 renowned personalities representing different segments of society graced the occasion . During the programme, a brief out line of different programmes to be undertaken to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was presented before the august audience by the Secretary of All India Sardha Shati Samaroh Samiti, Sri Aniruddha Deshpande.

Present on the dais were President of the All India Celebration Committee Mata Amritanandamayi Devi; Honorary Chairman Dr. Subhash Kashyap, and present on the dais were Shri Mohanrao Bhagwat, Pa ram Pujya Sarasanghachalak of Rastriya Swayam Sevak Sangh; Dr. Pranav Pandya, Head, World Wide Gayetri Parivar; Swami Nikhilananda Saraswati, Regional Head of Chinmayanand Mission; Shri P. Parameswaran, President, Vivekananda Kendra; Mananiya Pramiltai Medhe, Former Pramukh Sanchalika of RashtraSevika Samiti; Swami Ruthambharanand of Shivagiri Math, Kerala; Muni Lokesh, Jain Sampradaya and Sri Jayesh Gadhiya, Trustee, Akshardham Temple, New Delhi.

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SHOBHAYATRATo mark the launching of 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda, nation wide Shobhayatra was organised on 12th of January, 2013 .The re we re more than 15,000 procession all over the country. Over 5 million people participated in the celebration. Following are the highlights of the programme.

Doyang (Nagaland) : Participated in Nation Wide Shobha Yatra of 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda. The response of the people in this far off tiny town of Nagaland has been very encouraging, local people of Doyang have shown great enthusiasm and have taken part happily in the morning rally and the concluding programme. The Deputy Commissioner, Wokha, was the chief guest. Shri Vikrant Sing (Captain, Assam Riffles, Doyang), Shri A. Manna (A. Commandant, CISF), Shri S Gupta ( Branch Manager, SBI) participated in the procession and inaugurated the yearlong program of Sardh Shati Samaroh. The procession saw vibrant participation of Vivekananda Kendra Vidhyalaya School children, parents, Lotha people, Assam Riffles.

Vadodara : Record 339 floats and participation of 12926 male and 4828 female, 7 km long Shobhayatra was witnessed by more than 3 lacs citizen of Vadodara. Prominent religious leaders from Swaminarayan,Gayatri Parivar, Brhmakumaries, Jalaram Temple, ISCKON and Vaishnavacharyas have graced the occasion, District Collector, Hon'ble Mayor of Vadodara were also present.

Gwalior: More than 10,000 people participated in the rally. This two kilometer long rally saw participations of peasants carrying their plow, youth with mace and advocates in their black coat.

Jammu & Kashmir: 28 rallies were taken out at the same time from different location of the town.

Bhilwara : Shobha yatra started at 2.15 p.m. from Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Rajendra Marg. There were 39 Jhankies, 1200 two wheelers, 500 women carrying mangal kalash participated in the Shobha Yatra. 150 children in the attire of Swami Vivekananda, 3 elephants, 15 horses were also the part of Shobha Yatra.

Bathinda : The state level progrmme on 12 Jan2013 was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Punjab Shri Parkash Singh Badal. About 700 people participated in the said programme. Announcement of installation of Statue of Swami Vivekanand at Amritsar was made the Hon'ble Chief Minister. Shri Chander SekharTalwar I.A.S (Retd) State Secry, Saradha Shati Samaroh Samiti, Punjab, was the main speaker.

Kanyakumari: Swami Vivekananda's 150th Jayanti's yearlong celebrations began on 12th January 2013 at Kanyakumari with a Grand "Shobhayatra". It was inaugurated by Swami Chaitanyanandaji Maharaj of Hindu Vidhya Peetham at 8:30 morning at the feet of Swami Vivekananda's statue at Vivekanandapuram. The "Shobhayatra" was led by a group of 150 students dressed as Swami Vivekananda and one of them was mounted on an Elephant. A magnificent 'Ratham' - Chariot, students' band with march-past, Tamilnadu folk dancers, folk artists and musicians along with over 3000 students, teachers and common people actively participated in the one-and-half-kilometer long "Shobhayatra". The students were from schools and colleges of Kanyakumari. After four hours and crossing over 6 Kilometers, the "Shobhayatra" concluded at the feet of Swami Vivekananda's Statue at Vivekananda Mandapam, Vivekanandapuram. All 3000 participants of the "Shobhayatra" took prasadam. Thus marked the beginning of Swami Vivekananda's 150 year Celebrations - Sardh Shati Samaroh - at Kanyakumari, the land's end of India.

At A Glance:

All India Shobha Yatra ReportPrant Dist. Procession Presence Children Youth Man Women

42 874 15,409 52,08,515* 65,954 52,833 27,58,711 11,82,425•Participation details are not available from all the prant

MASS SURYANAMASKAR Monday, February 18, 2013

Around 350 years back Samartha Guru Ramdas initiated the practice of Mass Suryanamaskar (Sun Salutation), a form of Yogasana constituted of 10 different yogic postures. Regular practice of Suryanamaskar leads to stronger body, sharp Intellect, calm mind, and spiritual growth of the practitioner. It also helps in developing team dynamics among children when done collectively. Swami Vivekananda called for strength: "make your nerves strong. What we want is muscles of iron and nerves of steel, inside which dwells a mind of the same materials as that of which the thunderbolt is made" A strong and healthy younger generation definitely will be the harbinger of confident and robust future India.

With this idea of inculcating a habit of physical exercise and develop a sense of collectivism the Mass Suryanamaskar programme was conceptualised and was organised all across the country. 51,207 programmes took place at different prants of the country. More than 1.05 crore students participated in the programme. Other than these central programmes, numerous Govt, as well as private, schools have also conducted Suryanamaskaar programme within their own school campus.

Electronic as well as print media at national and state level gave a impressive coverage to this programme. Some of the state governments issued circular suggesting schools to take up this programme.

At A Glance:

Naltionwide SuryanamaskarPrant Places Programme Participants Boys Girls Schools

42 11,530 51,207 1,05,04,679* 52,39,341 22,26,055 34,666•Participation details are not available from all the prant

Pushpanjali Karyakram

The occasion of National Youth Day, January, 12th, 2013 was celebrated in Uttar Tamilnadu in a very innovative way. Statues, pictures of Swami Vivekananda was placed at different localities, societies and major street corner of the town with appropriate decoration befitting the occasion. Literatures and pictures of Swami Vivekananda was distributed in some of the venues. Discussion on the life and message of Swami Vivekananda was also organised at certain venues. The event held all across 38 districts in which more than 4,93,823 people offered their tribute to the great patriotic saint.

Prant Karyakram Participants Man WomenUttar Tamilnadu 2,996 4,93,823 3,60,418 1,33,405

Dakshin Tamilnadu 17,400 1,83,155

Nairobi yogathon impresses

At 7am on Sunday at the Jamhuri High School Grounds Nairobi, a team of young and old were bowing down to the sun, or practising the Surya Namaskar as it is known in yoga. This was one of the first parts of the exciting yoga sessions for the Nairobi Yogathon being held as part of the ongoing celebrations of the Swami Vivekananda 150th birth anniversary by the Hindu Religious & Service Centre. Participating centres included the Africa Yoga Project, Faraja Cancer Care Centre, Mrs Raj Walia and of course over 700 attendees that were welcomed by the Hindu Religious & Service Centre. It was a healthy way to continue the brilliant celebrations and spread the message of yoga to the general public who thoroughly enjoyed.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201302191466.html?page=2

All India Shobha Yatra Report

Prant Dist. No Of Procession

TotalPresence

Children Youth Man Women

874 15,409 52,08,515 65,954 52,833 27,58,711 1,160,925

Dakshin Tamilnadu 21 204 40,316

Uttar Tamilnadu 40

Kerala 32 493 1,14,611

Dakshin Karnataka 24 77 1,44,000 85,500 58,500

Uttar Karnataka 16 85 1,07,600 74,015 33,585

Poorva Andhra 325 25,720

Paschim Andhra 32 1432 3,33,051 2,27,531 98,154

Paschim Maharashtra 19 190 1,86,174

Kokan 29 118 1,09,099

Devgiri 15 241 1,43,689

Vidarbh 16 631 1,64,470

Gujarat 41 355 4,51,912 2,76,137 1,28,960

Malawa 26 140 49,932

Mandhya Bharat 24 243 2,13,466 42432 1,18,728 44,713

Mahakaushal 28 3433 5,33,308 3,73,612 1,59,696

Chattisgarh 25 468 3,49,670 1,90,641 1,59,029

Chitorgarh 24 816 1,56,253 52833 66,566 36,854

Jaipur 16 375 1,97,005 1,46,485 50,520

Jodhpur 16 419 2,57,933 1,85,848 72,085

Delhi 31 1 15,000 10,000 5,000

"Haryana" 22 590 57,500 47,000 10,500

Punjab 28 341 1,01,646 70,667 30,979

Jammu & Kashmir 17 26 8,930

Himachal Pradesh 23 91 23,000 11,000 12,000

Kanpur 20 113 61,500 52,000 9,500

Kashi 24 253 1,12,436 89,179 23,257

Avadh 22 110 63,416 50,100 13,316

Gorakhpur 17 163 1,08,359 86,365 22,294

"Uttarkhand" 165 1,01,710 70,033 31,677

Meerat 24 179 65,310 59,270 6,040

Braj 132 1,03,394 23522 65,305 14,567

Uttar Bihar 28 212 1,43,336 1,14,439 28,897

Dakshin Bihar 347 1,02,310 71,389 30,119

Jharkhand 28 309 1,17,907 88,586 28,271

Uttar Banga 24 856 71,555

Dakshin Banga 21 795 39,667

Utkal 40 453 1,83,752 1,18,585 65,167

Uttar Assam 22 121 75,694

Dakshin Assam 5 26 18,475 9,730 8,745

"Manipur" 9 11 1,020

Tripura 25 17 5,389

Arunachal 53 49,000

CENTRAL CELEBRATION COMMITTEE Swami Vivekananda Sardhashati Samaroh Samiti

s.No.

Name Designation Introduction

1 Mata Amritanandamayi President Primarily Known as "Amma", Founder of Mata Amritanandmayi Math2 Pujya Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj Samrakshak Successor of Swami Satyamitranand3 Swami Dayanand Saraswati Samrakshak Convener, Hindu Achariya Mahasabha, founder of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam

4 Swami Gautamanandaji Samrakshak President Ramakrishna Mission, Chennai5 Sri Sri Dr.Pitambar Deva Goswami, Samrakshak Religious Preacher, Aunatia Satradhikari6 Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji Samrakshak Founder -Art Of Living7 Sri Ashok Singhal, Samrakshak Marg Darshak Viswa Hindu Parishad8 Lama Chosphel Zotpa Samrakshak President, Himalayan Bauddha Vihara9 His Eminence Guru Tulku Rinpoche Samrakshak President, Tawang Monastery

10 Swami Satyamitrananda Samrakshak Founder of Bharat Mata Mandir, Samanvaya Kutir and the Samanvaya Sewa Trust at Haridwar.

11 Sri Mohan Bhagwatji Samrakshak Sarasanghachalak of Rastriya Swam Sevak Sangha12 Singh Saheb Gnani Gurbachan Singhji Samrakshak Jathedar (Acting), Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Sri Amritsar13 Ma. P. Parameswaran Samrakshak President, Vivekananda Kendra14 Ku. Pramila tai Medhe Samrakshak Magdarshika Rastriya Sevika Samiti15 Sri Veerendra Hedge Samrakshak A philanthropist and the hereditary administrator

(Dharmadhikari) of the Dharmasthala Temple.16 Dr. Subhash Kashyap Honorary Chairmari Former Secretary-General of 7,8th 9th Lok Sabha and Lok Sabha Secretariat17 Sri Ajit Doval Vice President Former Director of Intelligence Bureau and Director of VIF18 Sri Subhas Chandra Goel Vice President Chairman Zee TV19 Sri Dhanendra Kumar Vice President Former Secretary of Ministry of Culture20 Justice Rama Jois Vice President Former Governor of Jharkhand and Bihar states,

and Former Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court21 Shri A. Balakrishnan Vice President Vice President Vivekananda Kendra22 Ku. Nivedita Bhide Vice President Vice President Vivekananda Kendra23 Prof. Mrinal Miri Vice President Member of the National Advisory Council,MP(RS)24 Prof. Aniruddha Deshpande Secretary Acadamecian, Former Principal25 Shri Yashpaul Gupta Treasurer Prominent Businessman26 Shri Bhanu Das Dhakras Jt. Treasurer General Secretary of Vivekananda Kendra27 Sri Pravin Dabholkar Joint Secretary Joint General Secretary of Vivekananda Kendra28 Sri Abhay Bapat Joint Secretary Vibhag Pramukh, Vivekananda Kendra, Mumbai29 Dr. J.K Bajaj Joint Secretary Founding Trustee and Director of the Centre For Policy Studies30 Sri A.R Mohanan Joint Secretary Zonal Team of RSS, Keral31 Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan Sadasya Member, Planning Commission, Former Chairman of ISRO32 Dr.Vijay Bhatkar Sadasya Chairman of the ETH Research Lab ('Education To Home')34 Sri K.P.S Gill, Sadasya Former Director General of Police35 SriAKVerma, Sadasya Former Chief of RAW36 Sri Satish Chandra Sadasya Former Deputy National Security Advisor37 Sri Kanwal Sibal Sadasya Former Foreign Secretary38 General V N Sharma Sadasya Former Chief of Army Staff39 Amb.T.C.ARangachari, Sadasya Former Ambassador

Swami Vivekananda Sardha Shati Samaroh3 San Martin Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110 021

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