Consulate General of India

Jaffna

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PRESS RELEASE

Celebrations of 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s visit to Jaffna and 160th Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda (27-29th January, 2022)

1. As part of special week celebrations under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Consulate General of India & Ramakrishna Mission (RKM), Urumpirai organized series of events to commemorate 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s visit to Jaffna and 160th Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

2. On 27th January, 2022, Acting Consul General Shri Ram Mahesh addressed a gathering at Jaffna Hindu College as part of the commemoration. Swami Vivekananda visited Jaffna Hindu College on 25th January 1897 and addressed a gathering of more than 4000 followers on Vedantism.

3. On 28th January, 2022, Acting Consul General, in an event at Vaitheeswara College gave away cash prizes, certificates & gift hampers to the winners of essay & speech competitions organized earlier among school students on "Swami Vivekananda's Thoughts, Biographical Thoughts & Social Work." In a separate event organized at the National College of Education, Kopay, Jaffna, Acting Consul General and Swamijis gave speeches/lectures on how to mould the new generation with the teachings and discourse of Swami Vivekananda. The commemoration was concluded in the evening at Kathiresan Kovil. Swami Vivekanandaji visited this temple before his discourse at Jaffna Hindu College. A plaque and a portrait of Swami ji were unveiled at the Temple premises.

4. On 29th January, 2022, as part of commemoration of 160th Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, Acting Consul General Shri Ram Mahesh in his speech offered insight on Swamiji. Educational and COVID-19 aid were also provided to poor during the event at Welfare Center Premises, Urumpirai.

5. The events were attended by Swami Aksharathmanandaji Maharaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Colombo; Swami Harivrathananda Maharaj, RK Mission, Coimbatore, India; Swami Thakshayanantha Ji, Ramakrishna Mission, Batticoloa; Dr. A.Thirumurugan, Thurkkadevi Devastanam & other dignitaries.

3.A few representative photographs are enclosed.

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Jaffna

29th January, 2022