Celebrating Swamiji’s birth anniversary
He took a revolutionary step when he granted women the right to a life of complete renunciation and planned a women’s monastery for nuns
The Ramakrishna Centre recently held a cultural programme for the 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda.
The anniversary is being celebrated throughout the world, having started on January 12, 2011, and culminating on January 12, 2014.
Swami Vivekananda was the first monk to uphold and work for the emancipation of women. Swamiji greatly emphasised women’s education and spiritual development.
He took a revolutionary step when he granted women the right to a life of complete renunciation and planned a women’s monastery for nuns.
The 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations serve as homage to Swami Vivekananda’s universally respected stature as a world teacher, thinker, leader, prophet and the greatest benefactor of humanity.
To date, various projects for integrated child development, the elimination of malnutrition, empowerment of women, alleviation of poverty, and the building of schools and hospitals have been embarked upon internationally.
Hallmarks of the celebrations include value-based education and services to marginalised people. Furthermore, international seminars, film productions and many cultural events have been undertaken to celebrate the life of this great son of India and of the world.
To this end, the members of the Sri Sharda Devi Ashram produced a cultural programme especially dedicated to Swami Vivekananda.
The programme included a live play on the life of Swamiji and dances dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Lord Krishna and Si Ramakrishna.
Also included were recitations of poems written by Swamiji, and the crowd of over 500 were enthralled by the superb acting and display of outstanding talent.
An exuberant atmosphere of dance and music was created on stage by the big screen TV, special sound effects and good lighting, giving the audience a feast of cultural entertainment.
The over-40 cast of children, youth and adults created an exciting experience for all who attended.
The head of the worldwide woman’s organisation The Sanadamath (which is the biggest independent female-only nun organisation in the world), Reverend Amalaprana Mataji, gave a sterling talk on human values and the importance of family and community, and emphasised the teachings of Mother Sanada who taught the world about universality, religion and the harmony of all nations.
