Agartala, Jan 1 (IANS): Tripura's Left Front government will celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda with a year-long programme to inspire people with his life and philosophy, a minister said here Sunday.

"The year-long commemorative programme will start on Vivekananda's birthday Jan 12 and would be held in each and every locality across Tripura," Information Minister Anil Sarkar told reporters.

Besides publication of books and magazines on the life, work and philosophy of Vivekananda, the year-long programme will also include seminars, discussions, colourful rallies, sports and writing competitions, mass blood donation, cultural functions and screening of films.

The state government has formed a high level organising committee led by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is also the member of the CPI-M politburo, and several sub-committees to celebrate the anniversary of Vivekananda in a befitting manner.

Swami Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Dutta in an upper-class Bengali family of Kolkata on January 12, 1863. From his childhood, he showed an inclination towards spirituality and understanding of God. His spiritual teacher, Ramkrishna Paramhansa, taught him Advaita Vedanta (non-dualism), that all religions are right and that service to humanity was the most effective worship of God.

Vivekananda is considered as a key personality in the introduction of Hindu philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the other parts of the world, especially the west. He is also credited with raising interfaith awareness and bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the end of the 19th century.

Vivekananda is also considered to be a major force in the revival of Hinduism in modern India.