National Youth Day is annually celebrated across India on 12 January to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu spiritual leader, Philosopher, and social reformer in India, who played a crucial role in shaping modern India. The day is also known as Vivekananda Jayanti.
- 12 January 2024 marks the 161st birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
Background:
i.In 1984, the Government of India (GoI) declared the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda as National Youth Day to honour his teachings and ideals.
ii.The first-ever National Youth Day was observed on 12 January 1985.
About Swami Vivekananda:
i.Swami Vivekananda originally known as Narendranath Dutta was born on 12 January 1863 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency (Now Kolkata, West Bengal).
ii.He was a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
iii.He dedicated his life to teaching and guiding the youth on the importance of social service and character-building.
iv.On 1 May 1897, he founded the Ramakrishna Mission and Ramakrishna Math (“monastery”), a worldwide, non-political, non-sectarian spiritual organizations with headquarters at Belur, on the banks of the Ganges (River Ganga) near Calcutta.
v.On 4 July 1902, he passed away at the age of 39 at Belur Math in West Bengal.
27th National Youth Festival:
On National Youth Day 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 27th National Youth Festival at Nashik, Maharashtra. The festival will be held from 12th-16th January 2024.
The theme of the 27th National Youth Festival is “Viksit Bharat by 2047 Yuva ke liye, Yuva ke Dwara” (For the Youth By the Youth).
Organiser: The festival is being organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) in collaboration with the Maharashtra Government.
Mascot of NYF 2024: Shekaru, Indian Giant Squirrel (It is also the State animal of Maharashtra).
- The Masct was unveiled by Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister(CM) of Maharastra, and Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, MoYAS.
- The mascot was designed by the government of Maharashtra.
Note:
As the host state Maharashtra has also organized the first of its kind Maha Youth Expo to enable the interaction of youths with experts in diverse fields.
About National Youth Festival:
i.The National Youth Festival (NYF) began in 1995 as a major activity under the program of the National Integration Camp (NIC).
ii.The week commencing from the birthday of Swami Vivekananda is known as National Youth Week.
- As part of National Youth Week celebrations, the GoI holds the NYF every year, and National Youth Day is a part of this festival.
iii.NYF is an annual gathering of youth with various activities, celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of youth icon Swami Vivekananda.
iv.It is organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with one of the State Governments.
- Thus it is held in a different state each year during National Youth Week, 12 to 16 January every year.
Note: In collaboration with the State Government and institutions like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and the National Service Scheme (NSS), the GoI conducts NYF.
