First Swami Vivekananda statue in US unveiled in Seattle city centre

New York: A life-size bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda has been unveiled in Seattle, marking what officials say is the first such installation hosted by a city government in the United States.

The monument, placed at the prominent Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, was jointly unveiled on Saturday by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and India’s Consul General in Seattle Prakash Gupta. It has been sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat.

According to officials, the statue has been gifted to the City of Seattle by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) as a gesture recognising the city’s multicultural character and inclusive ethos. The unveiling coincided with ICCR Day celebrations and forms part of India’s wider cultural diplomacy efforts aimed at strengthening ties with the US Pacific Northwest.

In remarks at the ceremony, Mayor Wilson said the installation reflects Seattle’s inclusive spirit and deepening cultural links with India. The event was attended by civic leaders from across the Greater Seattle area, alongside members of the Indian-American community.

Situated in the busy Westlake Square, an area that reportedly sees hundreds of thousands of daily visitors-the statue stands near key city landmarks including the Amazon Spheres, the Seattle Convention Centre, and the Seattle Centre Monorail.

The Consulate General of India in Seattle described the installation as symbolic, linking Swami Vivekananda’s historic appearance at the World’s Parliament of Religions (1893), where he introduced Hindu philosophy to a global audience to Seattle’s contemporary role as a global technology and cultural hub.