Swami Vivekananda's 151st birth anniversary celebrated

, Jan 12: The 151st

anniversary of

was celebrated with fervour throughout West Bengal today, marking the culmination of year-long ceremonies. The main functions were held at his birthplace at Shimla Street in North Kolkata and at Belur Math, the headquarter of Ramakrishna Mission.

Colourful processions by school children and people of all walks of life were seen in the morning despite biting cold and fog in several parts of the state. Born on this date, now celebrated as National Youth Day, in 1863 as Narendra Nath Datta, he was the chief disciple of saint Ramakrishna and went on to set up the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.

The West Bengal government had organised a colourful show on Friday at the Red Road in the heart of the city with march pasts by school children dressed as Swami Vivekananda.

PTI