Seattle, April 12 (ANI): In a historic first, the City of Seattle has become the first city government in the United States to host a life-sized statue of Swami Vivekananda at Westlake Square Park in the center of downtown Seattle.
The life-sized bronze statue was jointly unveiled by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and the Consul General of India in Seattle, the Consulate said on Saturday.
Sharing details in an official statement, the Consulate said the monument is the first installation of Swami Vivekananda hosted by a city government anywhere in the United States. It is located at the prominent Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, a central gathering place that records over 400,000 daily visits and attracts millions of visitors each month. The site is within walking distance of the Spheres (Amazon headquarters), the Seattle Convention Center, and the Seattle Center Monorail.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by several dignitaries from the Greater Seattle area, including Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson; Kent Mayor Dana Ralph; Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus; Tukwila Mayor Tom McLeod; Normandy Park Mayor Eric Zimmerman; and Kirkland Mayor Kelly Curtis. A large number of community leaders from the Indian American diaspora and members of city councils of Bellevue, Bothell, Dupont, and Redmond also attended the ceremony, the Consulate said.
In her address, Mayor Katie Wilson underscored that the installation of the Swami Vivekananda Monument reflects the city’s inclusive spirit and further strengthens cultural ties between India and the diverse metropolitan tech hub in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
The Swami Vivekananda Monument is a gift from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to the City of Seattle in recognition of the city’s rich multicultural character and spirit of inclusivity. The event coincided with the celebration of ICCR Day. The installation is part of India’s broader cultural diplomacy initiative, facilitated through ICCR, and aims to strengthen people-to-people ties between India and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Swami Vivekananda was a renowned philosopher and spiritual leader who introduced Vedanta and Yoga to the West.
The statue in Seattle was sculpted by prominent Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat. With over 600 installations across more than 80 countries, his works serve as cultural icons of India across continents. (ANI)
About The Author
