The Birthday of Swami Vivekananda
The 145th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was celebrated at the Centre, Glen Anil on Saturday, 26 January 2008 (4:00 – 6:00 p.m.). The programme commenced with the chanting of invocation hymns by the Centre’s Choir group, singing of A Hymn to Swami Vivekananda and devotional bhajans by the Satsang Group.
The Keynote Address was then delivered by Sri Swami Vimokshanandaji. The Swami stressed that the ideals and values that Swami Vivekananda taught were universal in nature and would be beneficial to the South African society as a whole to develop in appreciating “other” cultures so that human society can live in peace and progress.
A DVD presentation on the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishtan Hospital in Kolkata, India was then shown. The audience had the glimpses of the early phases of the Ramakrishna Movement in India which was service-oriented to the suffering public as taught by Swamiji. The DVD was appreciated by one and all for its graphic account on the development of the leading Hospital. Thereafter, the Guest of Honour, Mr Jeph Mtshali (General Manager: Tourism & Corporate Strategy; Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism – KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Ministry), addressed the congregation on the topic “Intercultural Understanding”. He drew parallel observations from Swamiji’s teachings in order to bring a unified view on the understanding of the different cultures.
A graceful kathak dance by Kumari Sasha Naidoo followed. The programme concluded with peace chants led by Pravrajika Ishtaprana of the Sarada Devi Ashram, Asherville. Supper was then served to all devotees.
12th January
On 12th January which is Swami Vivekananda’s solar birthday, celebrated as National Youth Day in India, the Centre had an evening Satsang. Swami Saradananda of the Centre spoke on Swamiji and some of his dynamic aspects that give people strength of mind to face modern challenges.
Tithi Puja
As per Hindu Almanac, Swami Vivekananda’s birth tithi fell on Tuesday, the 29th January, 2008. In a quiet and solemn way, the tithi puja was observed with a few devotees joining in to sing the suprabhatam stotram at mangala arati. A detailed puja was done thereafter. In the evening during the weekly Gita class, Vimokshanandaji threw light on the duo rishis nara-narayana combination and how Swamiji as nara rishi as identified by his Master Sri Ramakrishna fulfilled the wonderful command of him in serving the poor, destitute and suffering people.
Youth Programme
Earlier, a Youth Programme to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was held on Sunday, 13 January 2008 (7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.), at the Centre, Glen Anil.
The programme commenced with satsang, which included the chanting of kirtans and bhajans, a reading from Swami Vivekananda’s “Complete Works”, meditation and peace chants. Thereafter the youth proceeded to the Swami Nischalananda Hall for breakfast. A Youth Seminar on Swami Vivekananda was then conducted, and the following topics were discussed:
Swami Vivekananda and the Rise of India
Processing Youth Energy according to Vedanta and Vivekananda Literature
The never-ending source of Life
After a short break, a DVD presentation of the address by the Honourable Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the former Prsident of India on Youth Day (Ramakrishna Mission, Porbandar, Gujarat, India – 12 January 2006) was shown. This was followed by a series of audio-visual presentations on the activities of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa. The programme concluded with satsang. Lunch was served thereafter. Registration for this youth retreat was limited to 100 youth.
Celebration at other Natal centres
Swamiji’s birthday was enthusiastically celebrated in Northern Natal centres of Estcourt, Ladysmith, Newcastle, Dundee and Glencoe. Ladysmith Centre on this occasion distributed 500 hampers to the poor while Dundee Centre gave away fruit juices and bread packets to 250 black poor children. Newcastle Centre had a Youth programme.
Among the Southern Natal centres, Pietermaritzburg, Durban central, Chatsworth, and Phoenix centre celebrated the event with cultural items. Chatsworth Centre held a Youth Seminar also. In all these places, Swami Vimokshananda spoke on Swamiji’s life and teachings.
Vedanta in Practice 
Published by