Awake, Arise! Celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in Hamburg

As the world commemorated the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the Hindu community in Hamburg joined the global celebrations to reflect on the life, teachings, and eternal inspiration of the “Cyclonic Monk” of India.

On Saturday, January 19, 2013, HSS Germany organized a special commemorative program at the Hindu Temple in Billstraße. The event served as a vibrant platform for participants of all ages to reconnect with the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda and resolve to implement his vision of a strong, compassionate, and enlightened society.

Event Highlights: Discipline, Wisdom, and Youth

The two-hour program was meticulously planned to reflect the multi-faceted personality of Swami Vivekananda—balancing physical well-being, intellectual growth, and the purity of childhood.

• Suryanamaskar: The program commenced with the practice of Surya Namaskar, embodying Swamiji’s emphasis on physical strength and discipline as a prerequisite for spiritual growth.

• Voices of the Future: In one of the most touching segments of the evening, children from the community recited selected quotes from Swami Vivekananda, demonstrating that his message remains simple yet profound enough for the youngest minds to grasp.

• Youth Perspectives: A series of short speeches by the youth highlighted how Swamiji’s call to “Awake, arise, and stop not till the goal is reached” resonates with the challenges faced by the modern generation in the West.

Insights from Distinguished Speakers

The core of the event was the intellectual churning provided by our guest speakers. We were honored to have a panel of distinguished individuals who shared their deep insights into the relevance of Vedantic thoughts in the 21st century:

• The program was chaired by Dr. Goswami ji, President Hindu Temple. Sinha Roy ji  spoke about   historical context and philosophical depth to Swamiji’s mission. He also mentioned about Swamiji’s visit to Hamburg.

• Ram ji Vaidya and Prakash ji Nandha delivered powerful addresses, exhorted the gathering to move beyond mere admiration of Swamiji and toward active service (Sewa) and character building (Sangathan).

“Strength is Life, Weakness is Death. Fear is the greatest sin. Swami Vivekananda’s words were not just for a century ago; they are the guiding light for the Hindu diaspora today.”