Agartala, January 11 (TIWN): Tripura will mark 153th Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, to be celebrated as National Youth Day on January 12th. As a part of this, the state government will organize a day­long celebration to observe his birth anniversary. Swamiji’s birthday, which is also known as National Youth Day is commemorated with processions, youth conventions, seminars, yoga, sports, and other cultural activities.

Swamiji is considered as a key figure in the introduction of Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the "Western" World, mainly in America and Europe and is also credited with raising interfaith awareness. For the youth of the 21st century world, Swami Vivekananda is indeed an icon. He is an icon who symbolizes confidence, concentration, focus, consciousness, compassion, selfless work, courage, eloquence, intellect, modernity, scientific temper and charisma. He strode the world and straddled across cultures and geographies with ease and gave the most relevant, precious gift and legacy for posterity.

On this day, several schools across Agartala will host processions on road, with students marching, singing and preaching the wisdom of Swamiji. Not limiting to schools only, people from different walks of life also hosted processions to commemorate the day. Several localities across the city will also organize cultural shows with songs and skits based on his teachings to mark the day. At Vivek Uddan in Agartala, hundreds of children will join the celebrations with special prayers and cultural performances Saffrons marquees adorned with large photographs of Vivekananda will sported throughout the city.

Several organizations across the state have engaged in various initiatives to celebrate Vivekananda anniversary. Vivekananda is also credited in bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the end of the 19th century as well as to introduce Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions at Chicago in1893.Tripura joined the nation in celebrating the of visionary leader Swami Vivekananda.

Vivekananda was born on January 12, 1863, and this day is celebrated across India as National Youth Day, with an aim to show the right direction to the youth of the country. It was first declared by the Government of India in the year 1984 to celebrate the birthday of Swami Vivekananda as the National Youth Day. Since then (1985), it is started celebrating as the National Youth Day all over the country.