National Youth Day is celebrated in India on January 12th to commemorate the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. The Government of India declared this day as National Youth Day in 1984, citing Swami Vivekananda's philosophy and ideals as a great source of inspiration for Indian youth. On this day, schools and colleges across India hold various events like speeches, competitions, and activities centered around Swami Vivekananda's teachings and writings to motivate the youth.

1. National Youth Day
By Raghav Aggarwal
Grade 6B

2. National Youth Day
 National Youth Day, also known as Vivekananda Jayanti,
is celebrated on 12 January, being the birthday of Swami
Vivekanand. In 1984 the Government of India declared this
day as National Youth Day and since 1985 the event is
celebrated in India every year.

3. Why it is celebrated
It was a decision of Government of India taken in 1984 to celebrate the birthday of
great Swami Vivekananda, i.e. 12 January, as National Youth Day every year. The
Government of India quoted that 'the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which
he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth Day.
On 12 January 2013, Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told in his
address at the inauguration of four-year-long celebrations of Swami Vivekananda's
150th birth anniversary:
What Gandhiji said captures the great importance of spreading Swami Vivekananda's
ideas and ideals among the youth in our country today. He personified the eternal
energy of the youth and their restless quest for truth.
It is entirely fitting that the Government of India has declared 12th January, the
birthday of Swami Vivekananda, as National Youth Day. We must work to rekindle the
eternal message of this great patriot and son of India.

4. Celebrations and Activities
The National Youth Day is observed all over India at schools and colleges, with
processions, speeches, music, youth conventions, seminars, Yogasanas,
presentations, competitions in essay-writing, recitations and sports on 12
January every year. Swami Vivekananda's lectures and writings, deriving their
inspiration from Indian spiritual tradition and the broad outlook of his Master Sri
Ramkrishna Paramahansa These were the source of inspiration and have
motivated numerous youth organizations, study circles and service projects
involving the youth. Swami Vivekananda's birthday (12 January 1863),
according to the Indian Almanac (Vishuddha Siddhanta Almanac) is on Pausha
Krishna Saptami tithi, which falls on different dates in the English Calendar
every year (generally in the month of January).
This is observed in various centres of Ramakrishna Math and Mission in a
traditional Hindu manner which includes mangal arati (a kind of worship
practised in India, especially by Hindu people), special worship, homa (fire-
ritual), meditation, devotional songs, religious discourses and sandhya-arati
(vespar service at evenings).

5. Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda 12 January 1863 – 4
July 1902) was an Hindu monk and
philosopher. He was a chief disciple of the
19th-century Indian
mystic Ramakrishna. Influenced by Western
esotericism, he was a key figure in the
introduction of the Indian darsanas (teachings
and practices) of Yoga and Vedanta to the
Western world, and is credited with
raising interfaith awareness,
bringing Hinduism to the status of a major
world religion during the late 19th century.

6. He was a major force in the contemporary Hindu reform movements in
India, and contributed to the concept of nationalism in colonial
India. Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna
Mission. He is perhaps best known for his speech which began with the
words "Sisters and brothers of America ...in which he introduced Hinduism at
the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893.

7. Quotes by Swami Vivekananda
 We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you
think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.
 Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it,
live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your
body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is
the way to success.
 Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached.
 You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.
 The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves
strong.
 Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be
true.
 In one word, this ideal is that you are divine.
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/swami-
vivekananda-quotes

8.  The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you,
depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.
 That man has reached immortality who is disturbed by nothing material.
 Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every
living being.
 Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every
living being.
 You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you
spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.
 Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea,
and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.

9. Thank you !!