Swami Vivekananda’s Legacy Celebrated at Rashmirathi Festival
Lucknow: The inspiring life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda took center stage on Saturday evening at Jupiter Hall, Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, through a captivating play titled “Yuvaon Ke Prareta: Swami Vivekananda.” This performance was part of the second day of the “Rashmirathi Parv,” a three-day drama festival organized by the Uttar Pradesh culture department. The event celebrates the 75th anniversary of poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s renowned Hindi epic poem, “Rashmirathi.”
Directed by Mujeeb Khan, the one-and-a-half-hour play highlighted significant moments from Vivekananda’s journey, including his trip to Chicago in 1893 for the Parliament of Religions and the challenges he faced along the way. It also featured the support he received from the Maharaja of Khetri, who honored him with the name Swami Vivekananda.
A key moment in the performance was Vivekananda’s appreciation for Lucknow’s rich cultural heritage. Akeel Alvi, who played the lead role, effectively captured Vivekananda’s commanding presence, delivering the powerful message, “Arise, awaken, and do not stop until the goal is achieved,” which received enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The Ideal Drama and Entertainment Academy troupe, hailing from Mumbai, brought this inspiring story to life. Neeraj Kumar, the chairperson of the event, emphasized the importance of celebrating such figures who dedicated their lives to the nation and worked tirelessly for social progress.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, the chief guest, paid tribute to poet Dinkar, a Padma Bhushan awardee from Bihar, recognizing him as a “rashtra kavi” for his passionate nationalist poetry.
On the festival’s final day, attendees can look forward to another theatrical performance focused on Bal Gangadhar Tilak, along with a dance-drama called “Atal Swaranjali,” showcasing the poems of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
