National Youth Day 2023 [Yuva Diwas]

In 1984, the Government of India declared 12th January as National Youth Day, and since 1985, the event has been celebrated in India every year to commemorate Swami Vivekananda's birthday. Vivekananda was adored by the people of the country and was considered one of India's greatest social leaders. National Youth Day celebrates Vivekananda’s achievements and honors his great philosophical and religious ideas.

Swami Vivekananda was one of India's greatest youth leaders and followers. A passionate student of Sri Rama Krishna Paramahansa, he was an important force in the resurrection of Hinduism in India. Know more about this great man, National Youth Day, its history and its significance here.

National Youth Day 2023

Celebrated on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary, National Youth Day is about reminiscing the works of Vivekananda and applying his philosophies into our own lives. Vivekananda’s life and mission were an example to all, and his ideas are spread and discussed on National Youth Day.

This day is about celebrating the youth of the country, and encouraging them to take up on Vivekananda’s ideas and philosophies. Find an overview of National Youth Day here;

National Youth Day 2022 Theme

The theme of National Youth Day 2022 is “It’s all in the mind.” This theme indicates that the root of any person’s issues are mainly their own thoughts. Vivekananda was an ardent follower of the Indian mystic, Ramakrishna, and believed it important to control the mind. Here are the previous year’s National Youth Day theme:

• 2021: “YUVAAH – Utsah Naye Bharat Ka."
• 2020: "Channelizing Youth Power for Nation Building"
• 2018: "Sankalp Se Siddhi"
• 2017: "Youth for Digital India"
• 2016: "Indian Youth for Development, Skill, and Harmony"

National Youth Day History

National Youth Day is celebrated to commemorate Swami Vivekananda's birthday. He was born on 12th January 1863 in Kolkata. He was a philosopher, activist, social reformer, and thinker. Being a follower of Ramakrishna, he founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897. This is a religious Hindu organization that imparts spiritual teaching to anyone interested.

The objective of celebrating National Youth Day is to disseminate the ideas and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda, about how he lived, preached, and the way he worked. Various events are held at schools, universities, etc. all over the country. Here are the details about the history of National Youth Day:

• The Government of India announced 12th January as National Youth Day in 1984.
• Consequently, the first Youth Day was celebrated on 12th January 1985.
• While announcing the day, the Government of India stated that Swami Vivekananda’s ideas and teachings could be beneficial for the youth of the country.

Importance of National Youth Day

The goal of celebrating National Youth Day on such a massive scale is to motivate the youth, create a better future for the country, and spread the ideology of Swami Vivekananda. National Youth Day is also known as Yuva Diwas. The government's main goal is to give the country a better future by motivating young people through Swami Vivekananda's way of life and ideas.

Vivekananda’s Philosophy:

• His philosophy lay a great emphasis on controlling the mind.
• His philosophizes that morality is inherently linked with how well you’re able to control your mind.
• He focuses on traits like truthfulness, selflessness, and purity.
• He encourages his followers to be selfless, and always work for truthful causes.
• He was also a firm believer of Brahmacharya, and linked it as a source of stamina, and mental well-being.

National Youth Day Celebrations

National Youth Day or Yuva Diwas, which is Swami Vivekananda's birthday, is celebrated with great zeal according to Indian culture and traditions every year at many Ramakrishna Mission centres and its branches. The National Youth Festival is celebrated every year from 12th to 16th January, and here’s how:

• The Great Mangal Aarti, prayer songs, meditations, religious speeches, Sandhya Aarti, etc. take place during the celebrations.
• It is also celebrated at various schools and universities by hosting parades, speeches, readings, songs, conferences, essay writing contests, seminars, and more about Swami Vivekananda.
• Swami Vivekananda's writing and lectures are also recited by students to inspire them.

FAQs on National Youth Day

Q1. What is National Youth Day?

National Youth Day is a special day designated to commemorate the Indian thinker, philosopher, and social leader, Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary. The Government of India marked 12th January as National Youth Day to celebrate this great man and his achievements.

Q2. When is National Youth Day celebrated?

National Youth Day is celebrated on 12th January every year in India. It is also known as Swami Vivekananda Jayanti because it is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Vivekananda. The government of India declared its 1st National Youth Day (Yuva Diwas) on January 12, 1985.

Q3. Which social reformer’s birthday is celebrated as National Youth Day?

Swami Vivekananda’s birthday is celebrated as National Youth Day. he was born on 12th January 1863 in India and is known for his contributions to social reform, philosophy, spirituality, and youth leadership. National Youth Day is celebrated to honor his achievements and ideas.

Q4. What is National Youth Day 2022 theme?

The National Youth Day theme 2022 is “It’s all in your mind.” This theme aims to help the individual realize that by controlling their mind better, they can improve their way of life, and the way they perceive things. The theme of National Youth Day 2021 was “YUVAAH – Utsah Naye Bharat Ka."

Q5. Who organizes the National Youth Day Festival?

National Youth Day is not only a one-day occasion in India. It is rather a week-long celebration. It is organized by the Government of India, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and State Governments.