THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As part of the Vivekananda Jayanthi celebrations, the Hindu Spiritual Service Foundation (HSSF) organised Vivekananda walkathon here on Thursday evening.
Swami Padmasthananda, secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Chennai,inaugurated the programme in front of the Althara Devi temple, Vellayambalam.
Delivering the Vivekananda message, he said Gandhiji had stated that his patriotism increased 1,000 times after going through Vivekananda literature and studying his life. A number of students dressed up as Vivekananda participated in the walkathon. Swami Aswathi Thirunal of the Ekalavya Ashramam, Thiruvananthapuram and Swami Yogavrathananda, of the Sree Ramakrishna Ashram, Thiruvananthapuram, led the Vivekananda ratha pooja.
The walkathon culminated at the Vivekananda Statue at Kawadiar where participants offered floral tributes. Being a green initiative, a vehicle followed the walkathon to collect the litter and garbage en-route which was later disposed of at the garbage collection centre of the corporation.
The programme was held as a prelude to the First Hindu Spiritual Service Fair to be held from February 2 to 5 in Thiruvananthapuram.