VVCC Choir performance, Apr 2022

Sunday, April 17, 2022

In their first ever presentation with the youth members, the VVCC Choir team took special interest in the early childhood of Swami Vivekananda. They were intrigued by the kindness and bravery of Biley -  Narendranath Dutta. The youth choir went through their narration about Swami Vivekandanda’s life and teachings and took special interest in drawing some of Swamiji’s stories, events and teachings. This resulted in a colage of pictures tied to their narrative that was presented at VVCC connecticut. 

VVCC Choir team in April 2022

The youth choir team on their first presentation.

The youth choir shared their narrative with the illustrations in their performance.

VVCC Choir Presentation

Life of Swami Vivekananda

Youth Choir Presentation: April, 2022

The youth team took special interest in the early childhood of Swami Vivekananda. They were intrigued by the kindness and bravery of Biley -  Narendranath Dutta. The youth choir went through their narration about Swami Vivekandanda’s life and teachings and took special interest in drawing some of Swamiji’s stories, events and teachings. This resulted in a collage of pictures tied to their narrative that was presented at VVCC Connecticut.

Life of Swamiji - narrated by youth members

By Aishani Nag

His kind heart since early childhood - As a young boy, Naren, affectionately called Biley by his family, once came across a poor sadhu and his da. He was starving and begged for food and clothes. Without hesitating, Naren gave away his own meal, despite his own hunger. Once he saw a man suffering from a severe illness, who was neglected by others due to the fear of contagion. Naren, showing immense courage and empathy, cared for the man without regard for his own safety, providing him with food and comfort.

The act not only showcased his empathy but also his willingness to sacrifice his own comfort to help others.

By Suhani Ghosh

When meditating, he is detached from fear and distraction - One day, young Naren was sitting in deep meditation under a tree. During his meditation, a large cobra approached him. The other children playing nearby saw the cobra and ran away in fear. They called out to Naren, urging him to escape from the snake. However, Naren was so deeply absorbed in his meditation that he remained completely undisturbed and unaware of the danger. The snake slithered close to him, circled around him, and then eventually went away without harming him.

This story highlights Naren's extraordinary focus, fearlessness, and spiritual depth even as a young boy. It also illustrates his ability to remain calm and composed in the face of danger, a quality that would later define him as Swami Vivekananda.

By Sammarth Sarkar

Parivrajaka Swamiji - As a Parivrajaka (wandering monk), Swami Vivekananda traveled extensively across India, visiting numerous sacred and significant places. Here are some of the key places he visited:

North India: Varanasi, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Agra, Rishikesh, Haridwar

Central India: Vaidyanath, Allahabad, Ghazipur

Himalayan Region: Nainital, Almora, Dehradun, Srinagar

North-West India: Delhi, Rajputana

South India: Tamilnadu - Kanya Kumari

By Ruhi Patra

Swamiji’s message to youth - He said: "Arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is reached." Vivekananda urged the youth to be confident in their abilities and to pursue their goals with determination and perseverance.

By Soham Sarkar

Little “Biley” young “Naren“ emarges as the universal monk - Swami Vivekananda's message to the youth is timeless and remains relevant to this day. His teachings emphasized the importance of self-confidence, strength, service, and spiritual growth.

Swami Vivekananda's life and teachings, seen through a youth’s perspective, highlights significant impact on spirituality and personal growth. Swamiji’s focus on self-knowledge, universal brotherhood, and character strength resonates with young minds. His life journey and narratives reveal his timeless messages of courage, compassion, and truth, inspiring individuals of all ages. By embracing his principles, the members of the youth choir embody hope and motivation, demonstrating that Vivekananda’s teachings empower future generations to lead lives of service and understanding. His legacy thrives in the pursuit of knowledge and the commitment to uplift others.