Dilip Guha, Lucknow, January 12, 2026: On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s 163rd birth anniversary, National Youth Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Ramakrishna Math, Nirala Nagar, Lucknow.
The day began at 5:00 am with the blowing of conch shells and Mangala Aarti, followed by Vedic chanting conducted by Swami Ishtakripananda at the Ramakrishna Math. The head of the Math, Swami Muktinathananda Maharaj, delivered an online spiritual discourse (Sat Satsang).
The main National Youth Day programme was held from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon in the auditorium of Ramakrishna Math and was also live-streamed on the YouTube channel “Ramakrishna Math Lucknow.” A large number of students from various schools participated in the event. Earlier in the morning, students from different schools took out a procession in honour of Swami Vivekananda, starting from the Reserve Police Lines, passing through Swami Vivekananda Hospital, and concluding at Ramakrishna Math.
It is noteworthy that in 1985, the Government of India declared January 12, the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, as National Youth Day. Since then, all centres of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission have been observing the day through various programmes.
The programme commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp amid Vedic chants by monks of Ramakrishna Mission Sevashram, Lucknow. The inaugural song was rendered by Swami Ishtakripananda and others. Under the leadership of Samar Nath Nigam, members of the Vivekananda Yuva Sangh recited Swami Vivekananda’s *Swadesh Mantra* and *Amrit Mantra* in unison.
Welcoming the gathering, educationist Hari Om Rai thanked the youth, students, and Swami Muktinathananda Maharaj for guiding the youth-oriented initiatives. A poem composed by Swami Vivekananda was recited by Priyanshu Yadav of the Gadadhar Abhyudaya Project (GAP). Distinguished guests on the dais were felicitated by Swami Muktinathananda Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Math, Lucknow.
Selected youth participants, including Siddharth Singh, Vikas Patel, Saurabh Sharma, Samar Nath Nigam, Dr Indu Subhash (Founder and MD, GUIDE – a social welfare organisation), and Satya Prakash Rai (former Additional Director of Prosecution, UP Government and former Dean, School of Legal Studies, UPSIFS), delivered brief addresses.
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The Chief Guest, Prof. Dr Vikram Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Noida International University and former DGP of Uttar Pradesh, addressed the youth on the importance of National Youth Day. He emphasised character-building, personality development, and following Swami Vivekananda’s ideals of service to the nation, compassion, love, and forgiveness.
The Special Guest, Dr Vivek Tangri, Chairman and holistic thinker from the Lete Hue Hanuman Ji Temple, Lucknow, also spoke on the significance of National Youth Day and stressed that character-building is the long but sure path to a successful life.
Youth must cultivate self-confidence, physical strength, mental focus, and a spirit of service to succeed in life said Swami Muktinathananda, Secretary Ramakrishna Mission Sevashram, Lucknow
Delivering the presidential address, Swami Muktinathananda Maharaj said that for success in life, youth must possess self-confidence, physical capability, mental concentration, and a spirit of service towards others. Referring to Swami Vivekananda’s message “Be and Make,” he urged youth to develop faith in themselves and to build “muscles of iron and nerves of steel.” He added that Swami Vivekananda’s ideals should serve as a guiding goal for shaping thoughts in the right direction.
Blessing the gathering, Swami Muktinathananda Maharaj stated that Vivekananda-inspired organisations are continuously strengthening the resolve of nation-building and that Swami Vivekananda’s clarion call—“Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached”—continues to infuse new energy, confidence, and awareness among the nation’s youth.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Rajesh Verma of the Vivekananda Youth Hostel Association of India. The programme concluded with devotional songs on Swami Vivekananda, followed by the National Anthem. Spiritual literature, photographs of Swami Vivekananda, and food packets were distributed among the youth.
Photo courtesy: Ramakrishna Math, Lucknow
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