UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD DAY CELEBRATION
Date: 11th September 2026
Venue: Eknath Ranade Hall, Vivekananda Kendra Zilla Parishad Vidyalaya, Port Mout
Vivekananda Kendra Zilla Parishad Vidyalaya, Port Mout, celebrated Universal Brotherhood Day with great enthusiasm and solemnity on 11th September 2026 in the school premises at the Eknath Ranade Hall. The day commemorates the historic address delivered by Swami Vivekananda at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago on 11th September 1893, which conveyed the timeless message of universal brotherhood, tolerance, harmony and peace.
The celebration commenced at 9:00 a.m. with the arrival of the distinguished guests. The Chief Guest, Shri Saurabh Kumar Gupta, Superintending Engineer (PRI), Zilla Parishad, South Andaman, graced the occasion with his presence.
Teachers from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Chouldari and GMS Ograbraj, South Andaman, Members of the School Management Committee (SMC) and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) were also invited to the programme.
The programme began with the presentation of a bouquet to the Chief Guest as a gesture of warm welcome and respect. This was followed by the singing of the National Song. The ceremonial lighting of the lamp, accompanied by the chanting of the Eikya Mantra, was then performed by the Chief Guest, marking the auspicious beginning of the celebration.
The cultural programme commenced with a beautiful and graceful Invocation Dance, performed by a student of the Vidyalaya. The performance created a serene and spiritual atmosphere and set the tone for the proceedings. Thereafter, the Principal of the Vidyalaya, Smt. B. Latha, delivered the Welcome Speech. She extended a warm welcome to the Chief Guest, invited dignitaries, teachers, parents and students and highlighted the importance of Universal Brotherhood Day and the relevance of Swami Vivekananda’s message in the present times.
One of the major highlights of the programme was the recitation of Swami Vivekananda’s historic “Chicago Address” by Deepmay Halder of Class XI. His confident and meaningful presentation brought alive Swami Vivekananda’s powerful message of religious harmony, tolerance and universal brotherhood.
This was followed by a thought-provoking skit depicting the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda. The students presented various significant episodes from his life and effectively portrayed his dedication, courage, spiritual vision and service to humanity. The performance was well received by the audience and conveyed the inspiring ideals of Swami Vivekananda in an engaging manner.
Thereafter, Sujata Biswas, a teacher of the Vidyalaya, delivered an informative and inspiring speech. She spoke about the significance of Universal Brotherhood and encouraged the students to imbibe the values of compassion, unity, mutual respect, tolerance and service in their daily lives.
The cultural segment continued with a melodious Group Song, followed by a vibrant dance based on Indian culture. The performances beautifully reflected the rich cultural heritage of India and conveyed the message of unity in diversity. The students participated with great enthusiasm, confidence and dedication, making the cultural presentations memorable.
The programme then proceeded to the Prize Distribution Ceremony. The Chief Guest distributed prizes to the students who had participated and excelled in various competitions conducted during the Universal Brotherhood Day celebration week. The students were appreciated for their active participation, creativity and efforts.
Following the prize distribution, the Chief Guest addressed the gathering. In his address, he appreciated the efforts of the Vidyalaya in organising the celebration and commended the students and teachers for presenting such a meaningful and inspiring programme. He emphasised the importance of Swami Vivekananda’s ideals and encouraged the students to become responsible citizens who uphold the values of unity, harmony, discipline and service to society.
As a token of respect and gratitude, a memento was presented to the Chief Guest by the Principal, Smt. B. Latha. The gesture expressed the school’s sincere appreciation for his gracious presence and encouragement.
The formal proceedings concluded with the Vote of Thanks, delivered by Smt. Men๐ka Paik, a teacher of the Vidyalaya. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Guest, dignitaries, invited guests, teachers, parents, students and all those who contributed to the successful conduct of the programme.
The programme concluded with the singing of the National Song, followed by the National Anthem, with everyone standing in respect and unity.
The celebration witnessed enthusiastic participation from the entire school community. A total of 745 students, 45 parents, 35 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff members participated in the programme. The event successfully provided an opportunity for the students to learn about the life and message of Swami Vivekananda while fostering the ideals of universal brotherhood, national unity, cultural harmony, mutual respect and service to humanity.
