West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday asked the people to remember the message of peace and brotherhood that Swami Vivekananda stood for, and on the birth anniversary of the monk, urged the youth to come together to dispel the air of hatred and uncertainty.
"#Swami Viveknanda's birthday is also celebrated as #National Youth Day. The youth of the country should come together to dispel the climate of hatred and uncertainty and work for the greater glory of this great nation," Banerjee said in a tweet Vivekananda's 156th birth anniversary.
"...We are observing #Vivek Utsav in his memory across the state. We must always remember the message of peace and brotherhood that Swamiji stood for," the CM said.
The main function of the celebration took place at his birthplace at Shimla Street in North Kolkata and at the Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission.
Across the state, voluntary organisations took out processions participated by children and youths in the morning in different localities.
Functions were organised at various places where devotional songs were sung and speakers deliberated on the great monk and his works including his Chicago speech in 1893 where he had introduced Hindusim to the world.