Swami Vivekananda birth anniversary celebrations in Moscow
On the 15th of April 2013, Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre, Embassy of India, Moscow, Ramakrishna Society – Vedanta Centre and the Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, jointly commemorated the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The celebrations were presided over by HE Mr Ajai Malhotra, Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Malhotra dwelt upon the contributions made by Swami Vivekananda, one of the most influential spiritual leaders of the 19th / 20th centuries, who was also a social reformer and a great scholar whose teachings influenced many across the globe and continued to do so even today. He highlighted the message propagated by Swami Vivekananda that ‘service to God can be rendered by service to mankind’.
Other prominent speakers on the occasion were Swami Jyotirupananda, Professor Rostislav Rybakov, Professor Mark Mokulsky, and Dr. Liliana Malkova, who highlighted various aspects of the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda and their enduring contemporary relevance.
The Labour Valour Fund honoured Professor Rybakov and Swami Jyotirupananda with awards on the occasion.
The programme concluded with an Indian Tea Reception hosted by the Tea Board of India, Embassy of India, Moscow.
Moscow
April 16, 2013
