The silver jubilee celebrations of the inauguration of the Swami Vivekananda Memorial in Belagavi at the Sri Ramakrishna Mission Ashram began on Friday.

Bhagwan naam Sankirtan, Sri Ramakrishna Homa, spiritual discourses, cultural programs and musical performances were organised.

S.P. Gurudas presented a Harikatha on Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna. Sangeetha Katti Kulkarni presented the “Sharanadasa-Vani” performance.

Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj and other monks were present.

Ninad Ashok and Nritya Ankalkar Rohit Mane will present a cultural performance on Saturday.

Raghunandan Panasikar will present Bhajanasandhya. Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj will deliver the benedictory address on Sunday.

Dattatreya L. Velankar and H.N. Muralidhar will present “Viveka-Gana-Chintana”, a cultural program based on Vivekananda’s poems, followed by lectures on his message.

Poorbayan Chatterjee will present a sitar performance.

Swami Vivekananda, arrived in the city on October 16, 1892, and stayed here for 12 days.

The first three days were spent at the residence of advocate Sadashiva Balakrishna Bhate. This house has been preserved as the Swami Vivekananda Memorial, where personal items used by the monk such as his cot, walking stick, and mirror are preserved. The memorial also houses a special art exhibition dedicated to his life and teachings.

For the next nine days, the monk stayed at the house of senior Forest Officer Haripada Mitra inside the Belagavi Fort. The historic house was later handed over to the Mission by the State government in June 2000.

Under the leadership of Swami Purushottamanandaji Maharaj, the “Vishvabhavaikya Mandir” dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was inaugurated on January 23, 2004.

A statue of Swami Vivekananda has been installed at this site.

In 2011, a three-storey building along with an auditorium was inaugurated under the guidance of Swami Raghaveshanandaji Maharaj.

The ashram has been actively engaged in social service for the past 25 years. Its initiatives include a free eye clinic, a computer training centre for students, personality development programs for youth, scholarships for underprivileged students and the distribution of foodgrains to needy families.