Odisha to Mark National Youth Day with Statewide ‘Vande Mataram’ Singing Programme

Bhubaneswar, Jan 3 : Odisha will celebrate National Youth Day on January 12 with a statewide collective singing of Vande Mataram across all educational institutions to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Students from schools, colleges and universities will come together to sing Vande Mataram and recite the Atmanirbhar Bharat Swadeshi Sankalp as part of the initiative. Each institution will also nominate one student as an Atmanirbhar Bharat Ambassador. In addition, various competitions will be organised for students, with meritorious participants to be felicitated.

Youth clubs across the state will also participate in the collective singing programme. The Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department has instructed all district collectors to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the initiative.

As part of preparations, a statewide Vande Mataram training programme is currently underway. Odisha has been divided into five zones—Jeypore, Berhampur, Balasore, Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar—for zonal-level training sessions.

Three teachers from each block, municipal corporation and NAC—two from schools and one from colleges or universities—nominated by district collectors, have participated in the zonal-level training. These teachers will further conduct training programmes at the block, municipal corporation and NAC levels. All local-level training programmes are scheduled to be completed by January 10, 2026.

Addressing the Bhubaneswar zonal-level training programme at Utkal University, Odisha Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said Vande Mataram emerged as the voice of India’s freedom movement and continues to inspire national consciousness and patriotic fervour among the youth.