Daijiworld Media Network - Seattle

Seattle, Apr 12: In a landmark cultural milestone, the city of Seattle has become the first municipal government in the United States to host a life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda. The bronze statue has been installed at Westlake Square, a prominent public space in the heart of downtown.

The statue was jointly unveiled by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Prakash Gupta. According to the Indian Consulate, this is the first instance of a Vivekananda monument being officially hosted by a US city government.

Westlake Square, known as a vibrant gathering hub with heavy daily footfall, is located near key landmarks such as the Amazon headquarters, the Seattle Convention Center, and the Seattle Center Monorail, making the installation highly visible to residents and visitors alike.

The unveiling ceremony drew several prominent leaders from the Greater Seattle region, including Dana Ralph, Nancy Backus, Tom McLeod, Eric Zimmerman, and Kelly Curtis, along with community leaders and members of the Indian-American diaspora.

In her address, Mayor Wilson highlighted that the installation reflects Seattle’s inclusive identity and strengthens cultural connections between India and the diverse communities of the US Pacific Northwest.

The statue, referred to as the Swami Vivekananda Monument, was gifted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations as part of India’s cultural outreach efforts. The unveiling coincided with celebrations of ICCR Day, underscoring the role of cultural diplomacy in fostering closer ties between India and the United States.

Officials noted that the initiative aims to deepen people-to-people connections and celebrate shared values of diversity, spirituality, and global harmony.