Kempegowda statue to be installed at the International Airport
- June 27 will be celebrated as Kempe Gowda Jayanti every year akin to Rajyotsava.
- A statue of Kempegowda on horseback will be installed at the Kempegowda International Airport.
- The Central Bengaluru University that is going to be bifurcated will be named Kempegowda University.
- Majestic Metro Station has already been named Kempegowda Station.
- No holiday on Kempegowda Jayanthi.
- Kempegowda Authority will establish a centre in 5 acres to exhibit all information about Kempegowda.
FollowThe first ever Nada Prabhu Kempegowda Jayanthi commemorating the founder of Bengaluru City organised by the State Government was a grand success prompting the government to declare June 27 as a permanent day to celebrate at all 30 district centres.
At the Vidhana Soudha banquet Hall the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the celebrations. He announced that a statue of Kempegowda on horseback will be installed at the Kempegowda International Airport. Plaque containing information about him would also be installed at the statue. Various universities in the State are named after Basavanna, Akka Mahadevi, Dr B R Ambedkar and the Central University will be named after Kempegowda, after the bifurcation. The Chief Minister said his government is keen on fulfilling the wishes of the people. Already the Metro station at Majestic has been named after Kempegowda.
Speaking on the occasion former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda said in an emotional fervour that he never dreamt that he would witness such a day of celebrating Kempegowda. He congratulated the government.
Energy Minister and Kempegowda Development Authority vice-president D K Shivakumar said several organisations have requested the government to name varsity after Kempegowda. There is also a demand to declare Kempegowda Jayanthi a holiday but he refused to entertain such suggestions. Kempegowda Jayanthi is not just a government sponsored program but a people’s program and will involve sapling planting, conserving tanks and water bodies etc.
The Kempegowda Development Authority will establish a centre in a sprawling 5 acres land and exhibit all information about Kempegowda.
Adichunchanagiri seer Dr Nirmalanandanatha Swamy said celebrating Jayantis of great personalities with the intention of informing children about them is inevitable. Several ministers were present at the program, as reported in Kannada Prabha.
Meanwhile, thousands gathered at the Freedom Park arriving with torch starting from four different spots. One torch started from Avani, Kempegowda’s birthplace in Anekal. The other four torches started from the four towers that Kempegowda built at the boundaries of old Bengaluru.
All torches were lit at their respective places by eminent personalities,, Ministers and film actors.
A huge procession carrying a huge photo representation of Kempegowda in a silver chariot, along with hundreds of folk artists performing along the road reached the Vidhana Soudha. The procession was inaugurated by playing the drums by seer of Adi Chunchanagiri mutt Dr Nirmalanandanatha Swamy, former PM H D Deve Gowda, Ministers D K Shivakumar and Umashree.
A large number of children as well as youth were dressed up as Kempegowda. Over 500 Kodava people in traditional Kodava costumes participated in the procession. All the public were served lunch at Freedom Park, reported Kannada Prabha
