THE year-long celebration to commemorate 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was inaugurated from Red Fort in New Delhi on January 12 with a massive procession in which more than 15,000 people belonging to various walks of life participated. The procession began from Red Fort and passing through various areas like Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli, Lahori Gate, Novelty Cinema, Delhi Railway Station culminated back to Red Fort. The procession was flagged off by Mata Amritanandamayi Devi.
Apart from Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Dr Pranav Pandya, Sushri Pramilatai Medhe, Swami Raghwananda, Swami Ritambharananada, Valmiki saint Swami Viveknath, Swami Shantatmananda of Ramakrishan Mutt, Shri P Parameswaran, former Police Commissioner of Delhi Shri Radhe Shyam Gupta, Shri Aniruddha Deshpande, RSS Delhi Prant Sanghachalak Shri Kulbhushan Ahuja and Shri Dinesh Chandra of VHP were also present at the inaugural function.
Thousands of residents of the area, business establishments, religious organisations, academic institutions, etc. welcomed the procession by showering flower petals. The whole route was decorated with banners and welcome gates. The purpose of the year long celebrations is to spread the message of Swami Vivekananda amongst all sections of the society, particularly the Indian youth, which is the future of the country. Swamiji’s message deals with comprehensive awakening of the nation; spiritual, economic, cultural, academic and industrial.
Prior to beginning the procession, Dr Pranav Pandya addressed the gathering and said the Indians should feel proud of having great personality like Vivekananda. (FOC)
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