Students in large numbers participated in the Vivek Sobha Yatra on Sunday marking National Youth Day and conclusion of 150th birth anniversary celebrations of iconic spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda.
Municipal Commissioner B. Shivadhar Reddy, who flagged off the rally from Swami Vivekananda statue on the Jail Road, described him as the greatest ambassador to the world of the greatness of Indian culture and its values.
Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Managing Committee member Mattapalli Chalamayya, CMD of CMR Group Mavoori Venkataramana, CMD of SRK Infrastructure M. Satyanarayana Raju and Swami Nityayogananda of the ashrama addressed the gathering before the yatra was flagged off.
The procession was taken out with an 11-foot statue of Swami Vivekananda in a horse carriage. Around 3,000 students from various schools and colleges participated. School bands from Navy Children School and Right Way School, mobile photo exhibition on the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda and children donning his attire were among the highlights of the yatra.
The yatra wound its way to the ashram via Daba Gardens, Jagadamba Junction, Ramnagar and Siripuram chanting the quotes of Swami Vivekananda and his ‘swadesi’ mantra.
Books and ‘prasada’ were given away to the participants after the conclusion of the yatra.
