Seventy-seven students and seven volunteers attended the session. After registration, the session commenced with a 15-minute guided meditation led by Swami Guruvarananda, followed by bhajans performed by Swami Shuddhabrahmananda. The next part of the event featured all the students coming together to recite the "Swadesha Mantra", which is a pledge inspired by Swami Vivekananda.

In his keynote address, Swami Guruvarananda reminded the students about the homework assigned the previous month: to list their activities at the end of each week and reflect on how their habits influenced their lives during that time. He began with the quotation, “Watch your thoughts; they become your words. Watch your words; they become your actions. Watch your actions; they become your habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” He shared that our thoughts influence what we say and do. As time goes on, the things we do regularly can become habits. These habits play a big role in shaping who we are and can influence our future.

Swami Guruvarananda emphasised the importance of monitoring one’s thoughts and encouraged students to evaluate their weekly actions—both positive and negative. By regularly reflecting on their behaviours, students could work to reduce their negative actions and enhance their positive ones. He pointed out that concentration of the mind and good character are essential for success. He shared anecdotes from the life of Swami Ramakrishnananda (Sasi Maharaj), illustrating how he practised maintaining full concentration on his tasks at all times, achieving perfection in everything he did.

To further explain the concept of concentration, Swami Guruvarananda narrated a story about a student who approached his Guru to learn about the importance of focus. During lunch, the Guru was fully concentrated on eating, while the student was physically present but distracted, asking questions about concentration. Once lunch was over, the Guru asked the student if he enjoyed the meal. The student replied that it was fine and felt annoyed that the Guru was only interested in discussing lunch rather than the topic of concentration.

The Guru then explained that true concentration can only be achieved when one perfects every action they undertake. He was ready to discuss the details of the lunch they had just shared, while the student struggled to remember the specifics, indicating his lack of concentration. Realising the significance of engaging fully in each task, the student understood that striving for perfection in everyday activities could gradually enhance his ability to concentrate his mind effectively.

The next session featured the introduction of the guest speaker, Sri Kumar, a leading professional trainer specialising in leadership development. He was honoured with the presentation of mementos to the esteemed chief guest, which included books, a shawl, and a statue of Swami Vivekananda.

The guest speaker addressed the topic "Critical Thinking (Think Outside the Box)." He engaged the students with a video presentation and a series of activities. The chief guest began his session with an engaging activity involving a water bottle. He instructed the students to move the bottle sideways, up, and down while synchronising their body movements accordingly. Then, he challenged the students to repeat the exercise but do the opposite of their previous actions, thus helping to activate their minds and keep them alert for his session.

Another exercise involved taking an A4 sheet of paper and folding it into a circle. All students were then divided into groups and tasked with coming together within that circle without tearing the paper.  These two exercises encouraged the students to break away from conventional thinking and to adopt an "out of the box" mindset, thereby expanding their minds beyond their current limitations. This approach resonated with Swami Vivekananda's belief that "Expansion is life. Contraction is death."

To further stimulate creative thinking, the guest speaker showcased two videos that encouraged students to engage in "out of the box" thinking. Following this, a 20-minute yoga session was led by Shri Veerabhadran, a volunteer yoga teacher, who guided the students through basic exercises.

After the yoga session, we enjoyed a reading from the book "Enathu Bharatham Amara Bharatham". The reading focused on inspiring quotes from Swami Vivekananda. After reading a few pages, a discussion ensued, encouraging students to share quotes from memory. Most of the students participated in this exercise, reinforcing their understanding of the important teachings of Swami Vivekananda.

Finally, a summarising session was held, with one student from each school presenting the main objectives of the youth cell they had attended. The feedback was positive and thought-provoking.The program concluded with prayers and a lunch prasad served to all students.

A total of 105 students and 7 volunteers participated in the session. The program commenced with a guided meditation practice and Vedic chanting led by Swami Guruvarananda. After that, the bhajans were conducted by Swami Shudhabrahmanandaji Maharaj. He performed three songs in honour of Lord Ganesha, the goddess Saraswati, and Sri Ramakrishna. Everyone joined in and happily sang along with him. Next, the participants took an oath while standing, reciting the Swadesha Mantra of Swami Vivekananda together.

Swami Guruvarananda, in his keynote address, asked an interesting question to the students: What things help us succeed or make us fail? He said that the answer is found in our "habits". He shared a quote from the Bhagavad Gita (6.5): "A person should help themselves and not bring themselves down. Our self can be our best friend or our worst enemy."

Swami Guruvarananda explained the difference between actions and habits, stating that while an action is done once, repeated actions become habits. He elaborated that thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits, habits shape character, and character ultimately determines destiny. He noted that if a person practises an action continuously for 90 days, it becomes a habit.

To illustrate effective time management, Swami described the daily routine of Dr Abdul Kalam, a notable role model for the students. Mr Kalam began his day at 4 a.m. and meticulously followed a schedule that included prayer, meditation, and personal readings until 11 p.m. This example was shared to inspire students, demonstrating how regulating daily life down to the finest details could help develop good character and provide support during challenging situations.

Swami Guruvarananda concluded by assigning homework to all students: they were to list their daily activities and determine which were actions and which were habits. The next session included a special guest speaker; Smt Varsha is a volunteer at the Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Vivekanandar Illam. She has a master's degree in management and inspires students participating in the program. She was felicitated with gifts, including books and a shawl, as a token of appreciation. Smt. Varsha began her talk on the topic, "Inspiring Message of Swami Vivekananda for the Youth: For the Better Student".

The chief guest delivered a PowerPoint presentation on this topic, outlining key points and highlighting several quotes from Swami Vivekananda:

1. "We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one's own feet." To explain the significance of this important quote, she shared an example from the life of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, drawing on her personal experiences. She recounted her visit to the old librarian at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, where she recalled how, during the pre-Google era in 1963, Dr Kalam would spend a great deal of time reading the latest books on science and technology in the library. This dedication contributed to the expansion of his intellect. When Dr. Kalam later became the President of India in 2005 and visited the VSSC, he always made a point to greet the librarian, even after 42 years. This demonstrated his respect for others, as he enquired about her family and acknowledged the contributions of those who had helped him along his journey.

2. "All great works undertaken are achieved through mighty obstacles. Stand up, be bold, be strong! Know that you are the creator of your destiny. All the strength and support you want is within yourself." To illustrate this quote, Smt. Varsha provided another example from Dr. Kalam's life, explaining how he took full responsibility for Indian space research and played a crucial role in its development. The seed of his efforts has grown into a flourishing tree today, thanks to Dr Kalam's hard work and dedication.

Swami Vivekananda's remedy for overcoming bad habits is to cultivate good counter-habits. By consciously developing positive habits and engaging in virtuous actions, individuals can gradually replace negative patterns with constructive ones. In essence, replacing bad habits with good habits is essential for reforming one's character and overcoming negative tendencies.

The main speaker compared the way our minds can wander to the playful and mischievous behaviour of monkeys. In contrast, she described good habits as a colourful flying elephant holding a lotus flower in its trunk. She encouraged the students to concentrate on the idea of this flying elephant, which symbolises good habits, and to cultivate this image as a strategy to help control their wandering thoughts and overcome bad habits.

The chief guest also shared a powerful quote from Swami Vivekananda: "Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life; dream of it; think of it; live on that idea. Let the brain, the body, muscles, nerves—every part of your body—be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, and this is the way great spiritual giants are produced." She illustrated this point by highlighting two great personalities who embodied this principle and achieved success:

1. Dr. Sreedharan, known as the "Metro Man", began his dream project in Kolkata on October 24, 1984, which has since expanded to 15 cities across 11 states in India. 2. Lahari Bai, a 27-year-old woman from the Baiga tribe in Dindori, Madhya Pradesh, has emerged as a beacon of hope for preserving indigenous crops and traditional knowledge. For over a decade, she has worked tirelessly to safeguard her people's millet varieties, known as 'Shree Anna', from extinction.

Swami Vivekananda's quote, "One of the greatest lessons I have learnt in my life is to pay as much attention to the means of work as to its end," emphasises the importance of focusing on the journey toward a goal, rather than just the destination. Through these five important quotes from Swami Vivekananda, the chief guest impressed upon the attentive students the necessity of:

1. Developing good character

2. Strengthening the mind and intellect

3. Overcoming obstacles

4. Cultivating good habits (symbolized by the flying pink elephant with a lotus flower)

5. Focusing on one idea and pursuing it to the end

6. Recognizing and controlling the "fires" (uncontrolled passions) in their lives

The next session was a 20-minute yoga class led by Sri Veerabhadran, a volunteer yoga teacher, which included Surya Namaskar and basic exercises.

Following that, we had a reading from the book "Enathu Bharatham Amara Bharatham", which was written by Swami Vivekananda. After the reading, the students were engaged in a discussion to share their thoughts and insights about what they had just heard. A question-and-answer session ensued, during which students who successfully answered questions were awarded books as prizes. Finally, the program concluded with a summarising session where one student from each school shared their learnings from the Youth Cell program. The overall feedback was very positive. The event concluded with prayers, followed by lunch prasad served to all students. 

The event witnessed the enthusiastic participation of fifty-four students in the youth cell program hailing from various educational institutions, along with six dedicated volunteers who contributed to its success. The program began with a peaceful guided meditation practice and heartfelt prayers led by Swami Guruvarananda, promoting a sense of peace and mindfulness among participants. This initial segment set a contemplative tone for the day.

A vibrant bhajan session was conducted by Swami Shudhabrahmanandaji Maharaj and his talented team. They joyfully performed three devotional songs dedicated to the Holy Trio of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda, creating an atmosphere filled with spiritual energy and devotion.

In his keynote address, Swami Guruvarananda emphasised the moral value of a well-known Tamil proverb, 'Thai Sollalai Thattathe', which translates to 'never disobey Mother’s words'. He elaborated on this wisdom by providing inspirational examples of three iconic leaders who diligently embodied this principle throughout their lives.

1 Swami Vivekananda: He honoured his mother’s influence, Smt Bhuvaneswari, who once predicted the possibilities for her son’s future and impacted the world with his teachings. His journey began with his impactful speeches at the Chicago Parliament of Religions in 1893, sparking global interest. He delivered India’s spiritual heritage message to the world.

2 Sri Visveshvaraiah: He is acknowledged as one of India’s preeminent civil engineers. He heeded his mother’s advice and dedicated his life to improving the nation’s infrastructure. His visionary projects included the creation of pipelines to provide accessible water to countless villages, thereby transforming rural India Swami Guruvarananda highlighted that personal aspirations should inspire individuals to put in hard work rather than giving in to laziness. Following his address, Swami Guruvarananda introduced the esteemed guest speaker, Smt Krishnaveni from Chennai, who was warmly honoured with mementos, including a traditional shawl and selected books, as a token of appreciation for her contributions.

In her engaging speech, Smt Krishnaveni delved into the theme of "Leadership Lessons from the Ramayana and Thirukkural".  Drawing inspiration from Swami Vivekananda, she highlighted two critical leadership qualities: no jealousy and no selfishness.  She elaborated on eight essential qualities of effective leadership, which she skilfully illustrated with relevant examples from the Ramayana and poignant couplets from the Thirukkural:

1. Education: Swami Vivekananda recognised education as a powerful tool for societal change. His extensive travels across India in the 1890s allowed him to grasp the multifaceted challenges faced by the populace, leading to insightful solutions presented during the Chicago Parliament in December 1892.

2. Independent Thinking Skills: The significance of independent thinking and critical reasoning in leadership.

3. Art of Speaking: Mastery in effective communication to convey ideas with clarity and persuasion.

4. Art of Listening: The skill of attentive listening, fostering deeper understanding and connection with others.

5. Empathy: The capacity to understand and resonate with the emotions and experiences of others, fostering compassion in leadership.

6. Assessment: The ability to evaluate situations with discernment and make informed decisions.

7. Determination: A steadfast commitment to pursuing goals despite challenges and obstacles.

8. Composure: Maintaining a calm demeanour in high-pressure situations, which is vital for effective leadership.

After her inspiring talk, participants engaged in a rejuvenating 20-minute yoga session, which included the traditional Surya Namaskar and basic exercises, skilfully led by volunteer yoga instructor Sri Veerabhadran.

This session not only promoted physical well-being, but also the activities were designed to promote unity among participants by engaging them in shared physical experiences.

The program continued with a reading from Swami Vivekananda's work, "Enathu Bharatham Amara Bharatham", specifically under the title 'Sri Ramakrishna', which highlighted the profound teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and their relevance in contemporary ideas.

The next was followed by an interactive question-and-answer session, which encouraged engagement and reflection among the students. The successful participants who answered correctly were rewarded with books from the chief guest, further promoting a culture of learning and inquiry.

To conclude, representatives from each school shared summaries of the main objectives they had gleaned from attending the Youth Cell program, reflecting the overall positive feedback and transformative experiences encountered.

The program wrapped up with collective prayers, and a delicious lunch of prasad was distributed to all attendees, fostering a spirit of community and gratitude.

Attendance: 46 students and 7 volunteers

The Youth Cell program commenced with a 20-minute guided meditation session, followed by bhajans led by Swami Guruvarananda.  Next, the students collectively recited the "Swadesha Mantra", a pledge by Swami Vivekananda.

In his keynote address, Swami Guruvarananda referenced a well-known saying by Swami Vivekananda: "Each soul is potentially divine; you can do anything and everything." He illustrated this concept by sharing the story of Jambavan, who highlighted Hanuman's strengths, emphasising that Hanuman had forgotten his potential due to a curse. Swami Guruvarananda likened the role of a guru to that of a Jambavan, as they guide individuals to recognise and realise their potential.

The speaker delved into Hanuman's resourcefulness in overcoming challenges during his quest to find Mother Sita, positioning him as an exemplary figure for the youth. He stressed that the divine essence resides within everyone, though it often remains unrecognised. He shared an impactful anecdote about a beggar who spent his life in poverty, only for the community to discover a pot of gold coins in the same spot after his passing. This story suggests that many individuals are unaware of their vast potential.

After his address, Swami Guruvarananda introduced the guest speaker, Shri T.M. Soundarajan, an assistant professor at a law college in Chennai and a skilled linguist. He delivered his speech on "Swami Vivekananda's Perspective on Education and Youth".

He began his discussion by posing the question, "What is education?" and offered a thorough definition that included both formal and informal learning experiences.

He underscored the importance of self-belief and urged students to embrace challenges and pursue their goals with confidence. His presentation was complemented by English grammar lessons, which would be beneficial to all attendees.

After the talk, participants engaged in a 30-minute yoga session led by volunteer yoga teacher Shri Veerabhadran, which included Surya Namaskar and fundamental exercises.

Subsequently, two students read excerpts from "Enathu Bharatham Amara Bharatham", focusing on the contributions of the great Indian spiritual teachers such as Sri Sankara, Sri Ramanuja, and Sri Chaitanya. A question-and-answer session followed, rewarding students who provided correct answers with books as prizes presented by the chief guest.

The program concluded with a summary session, where a representative from each participating school shared key takeaways from the meeting. This interactive segment showcased the students' growing confidence in discussing their challenges and their strategies for applying the insights acquired. The event ended with closing prayers, followed by the distribution of lunch prasad to all students.

The session was attended by 93 students and 7 volunteers. The program began with a guided meditation practice lasting 20 minutes, followed by chanting Vedic mantras and bhajans led by Swami Guruvarananda. Next, the "Swadesha Mantra", composed by Swami Vivekananda, was recited as a pledge by the participants while standing. After this, Swami Guruvarananda introduced the guest speaker, Shri K. Kumar, a retired HR professional with over 36 years of experience and a professional trainer specialising in leadership management. A memento, which included books, was presented to the esteemed chief guest.

In his keynote address, Swami Guruvarananda emphasised the proper utilisation of time and the importance of avoiding tension and restlessness. He started with a famous quote by Swami Vivekananda: "Teach yourself, teach everyone his real nature, call upon the sleeping soul and see how it awakens. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come, and everything excellent will come when this sleeping soul is roused to self-conscious activity."

He stressed that the true purpose of the Youth Cell is to awaken the divinity within everyone, which often remains unmanifested. The goal of these programmes is to ignite that infinite power. To illustrate the need to avoid tension, he shared an anecdote about a professor and his colleagues who were at a railway station to give a farewell reception to a friend. Due to sudden confusion and tension, the colleagues boarded the train without ensuring whether their professor had joined them. Swami Guruvarananda pointed out that "haste always makes waste."

He also advised against excessive worrying about the future and accumulating wealth, using the example of a wealthy businessman who was overly focused on securing his legacy. During a visit to a monastery, the businessman realised the futility of his wishful thinking when a Swami there refused his food, despite having enough for that day. This incident made the businessman reconsider his preoccupation with the future.

The special guest, Sri K. Kumar, then delivered a speech on "Time Management". He introduced the concept of the Time Matrix by showing a video that highlighted four quadrants:

A) Quadrant I (Necessity): This includes pressing problems, crises, and deadlines. The video highlighted the significance of prioritizing effectiveness rather than just efficiency, as well as valuing relationships over strict schedules. It addressed issues that are both critical and time-sensitive.

B) Quadrant II (Effectiveness): This quadrant includes important but not urgent tasks such as planning, preparation, preventing problems, building relationships, and learning and development. It is the most crucial quadrant for growth. Spending more time in Quadrant II reduces the stress and tension associated with Quadrant I by helping to prepare for unexpected challenges.

C) Quadrant III (Deception or Distraction): This quadrant contains tasks that are urgent but not important, such as unnecessary meetings, reports, emails, phone calls, and other minor issues.

D) Quadrant IV (Waste and Excess): This quadrant consists of activities that are neither urgent nor important, such as mindless TV, excessive gaming, and endless internet browsing.

Kumar emphasised that Quadrants III and IV should be avoided, as they can lead to distraction and deception and are a complete waste of time. After the presentation, students participated in an exercise to assess how much time they currently spend in each quadrant with integrity and discipline. This exercise aimed to help them become more effective by utilising time in Quadrant II to prevent future crises.

The next session included a 20-minute yoga session with Surya Namaskar and basic exercises led by Shri Kesavan, a volunteer yoga teacher.

Following the yoga session, a reading from the book "Enathu Bharatham, Amara Bharatham" by Swami Vivekananda, focusing on "Buddha". A full article was reviewed and discussed, followed by a question-and-answer session. Students who answered questions correctly received books as prizes.

Finally, one student from each school summarised the main objectives of the Youth Cell programme they had attended. The overall response from both students and teachers was positive.

The programme concluded with prayers, and a delicious lunch prasad was served to all attendees.

    Revered Swami Sarvarupanandaji Maharaj, a senior monk residing at Varanasi Home of Service, gave the benediction address.   

Salient points of his speech are as follows:

The Youth Cell Program Minutes for April 2024 were held on 7/4/24 at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, T Nagar. Fifty students, including students from SVYF and four volunteers, attended the session.

The session started with a "Guided meditation" practice by Swami Guruvarananda. The second session was the bhajans by Swami Shuddhabrahmananda, with three songs on the holy trio.                                

As it was the 13th day after the Mahasammadhi of the Most Revered Srimat Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj, the 16th president of the Ramakrishna Math & Mission, Swami Guruvarananda briefly explained the Revered Maharaj's life and message and observed silence prayer for two minutes by all.                                

Swami Guruvarananda explained the concept of the Guru through the story to help us realize our forgotten divine consciousness, which is always there within us. Still, due to ignorance, we are not able to know it: "A king and his pregnant wife sought shelter at a hunter's home in the forest as they fled from the town, fearing death from the attacking enemy. The king went outside alone to save his pregnant wife and fought the opponent, leaving his wife behind. The enemies killed the king, and the pregnant wife gave birth to a son, and she also died during the labour of giving birth. 

The minutes of the Youth Cell Program for May '24 were held on 5/5/24 at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, T Nagar, and Chennai.  The above session was attended by 40 students (including SVYF students) and five volunteers, who played a crucial role in organizing and facilitating the activities. Their dedication and support were instrumental in the smooth running of the session. 

The session started with a 30-minute Guided meditation practice led by Swami Guruvarananda. The meditation focused on deep breathing and mindfulness, helping the students relaxes and prepare for the session. This was followed by the chanting of 'Shanthi Mantras,'bhajans and chanting of ‘Swadesha Mantra’ creating a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere. 

In his keynote address, Swami Guruvarananda mentioned Swami Vivekananda's famous quote: 'Teach yourself, teach everyone his real nature, call upon the sleeping soul and see how it awakens. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come, and everything excellent will come when this sleeping soul is roused to self-conscious activity.' He then shared three stories that illustrated the essence of this quote in different contexts. 

a) There was a young and educated degree holder who was desperate to find a job, finally got the job as a reporter in a daily newspaper, and was asked to join the next day, i.e., Independence Day.

He reported for duty and was assigned to the port to cover a new ship that was coming and how they celebrated Independence Day. When he went to the port, he was saddened that there was no Independence Day celebration. A hole was in it; the ship had been flooded with water, and people were getting it out. So the new reporter returned to the office, dejected, as there was nothing to report. However, another reporter capitalized on the opportunity of no Independence Day at the port due to flooding and made that news the headlines. Thus, by believing in oneself, one how the problems were viewed by two persons, one in a pessimistic way and the other in an optimistic way. 

b) The second story of how a monk went into a forest where a rakshasi lived and committed murders of those coming into the forest. The monk, despite the warnings from the public, went in. There was a tremendous hurricane, and the leaves and branches had fallen from the tree—the monk when approached by the rakshasi.  The monk said, if you want to kill me, I am ready to die at this moment, but answer me one question. He said that you just broke branches from the tree to frighten me. Can you fix the broken branches into the same tree? The rakshasi failed, and she reformed herself. Thus, the monk took the trip, considered a massive risk by people, converted into an opportunity. 

The minutes of the Youth Cell Program were held on 23/06/2024 at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, T. Nagar, and Chennai. 

One hundred four students and eight volunteers attended the session. The session began with a 20-minute 'Guided meditation practice' led by Swami Guruvarananda. This practice, which aimed to bring a sense of calm and centeredness, was followed by chanting slokas and mantras, which deeply connected with the audience. 

The next session featured Swami Shuddhabrahmananda's bhajans, which genuinely moved the audience. This was followed by reciting the 'Swadesha Mantra' pledge, expressing unity and... Commitment recited by all the students, further strengthening their bond and fostering a sense of belonging among the audience. 

The guest speaker, Mr. T.S. Sudarshan, a successful industrialist and an alumnus of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Main School, T. Nagar (batch of 1972-78), was introduced, and a memento was presented to him. 

In his keynote address, Swami Guruvarananda emphasized the importance of Yoga practice. He highlighted that exercise strengthens physical health, and meditation strengthens mental health. The purpose of Yoga is to unite the body and mind, like cement binding two bricks together. 

He narrated a story from the book "Raja Yoga" by Swami Vivekananda: Once, a minister to a great king fell into disgrace and was punished by being shut up at the top of a very high tower. As instructed by her husband, his faithful wife brought him a long rope, some stout twine, pack thread, silken thread, a beetle, and a little honey. The minister used these items to escape from the tower, symbolizing the journey of controlling our breath, nerve currents, thoughts, and Prana to attain freedom. 

He also explained that our thoughts are crucial in shaping our lives. Good thoughts lead to good actions, repeated actions form habits, and habits build our character. Therefore, cultivating positive thoughts leads to good character. 

The next session featured a speech by an esteemed guest speaker on "Man-Making Education." The Speaker began by listing the steps for man-making education. These included willpower, holy company, and good physical health. The Speaker emphasized the importance of physical strength, team spirit during football, and running for 90 minutes, all of which contributed to improving physical strength, citing Swami Vivekananda's quote, "Near to heaven, by playing football." 

The Speaker also highlighted the traditional learning education system, which involved living with the teacher and imbibing the practical application of theoretical concepts to ensure the students' good grasp.

Minutes of the Youth Cell Program held on 14/07/2024 at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, T Nagar, Chennai. 

Seventy-six students and four volunteers attended the session. The session began with a guided meditation, chanting Vedic mantras, slokas, and bhajans. 

Next, the attendees took the oath of the "Swadesha Mantra", which emphasizes the importance of service to the nation and the community in a standing position, as per the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. 

In his keynote address, Swami Guruvarananda emphasized the importance of youth in building a better future. He encouraged the students to set clear goals and work diligently towards achieving them. He also noted the need for self-realization and self-improvement, quoting Swami Vivekananda's teachings. 

Swami Guruvarananda explained the concepts of dedication and Guru Bakthi with a story from Mahabharata, emphasizing the importance of concentration, dedication, and self-improvement. 

The guest speaker, Mr. Bakyanathan, delivered a practical session on 'How to build Self-Confidence'. He emphasized the importance of self-belief and faith in one's abilities. He illustrated the power of positive self-talk with real-life examples, empowering the audience with practical tools for self-improvement. 

The program also included a 20-minute yoga session with Surya Namaskar and basic exercises led by a yoga teacher. 

The session continued with an interactive reading from Swami Vivekananda's book Enathu Bharatham, Amara Bharatham, about Raja Yoga and meditation practice. This inclusive activity fostered a sense of community and engagement, followed by a lively discussion and the distribution of books to those who actively participated.