Processions, cultural programmes mark Basava Jayanti in several districts

Sri Gurusiddha Rajayogindra Swami accompanied by MLA Mahesh Tenginakai garlanding the statue of Basavanna on his birth anniversary in Hubballi on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: KIRAN BAKALE

Festive spirit pervaded the districts of Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag, Uttara Kannada and Davangere on Wednesday as hundreds of people took out processions and paid floral tributes to 12th century social reformer Basavanna (Basaveshwara) who strived for creation of an egalitarian society on his birth anniversary.

While it was common sight to see a beeline of political leaders, officials and office-bearers of various organisations in front of the statues of the social reformer installed at junctions across the districts of North Karnataka to pay floral tributes, a majority of the Basava Kendras that are involved in propagation of Basava ideology took out processions carrying bundles of Vachanas overhead along with the portraits of Basaveshwara mounted on embellished vehicles.

Various groups under the aegis of different organisations engaged in spreading the message of Basaveshwara, apart from Dalit organisations, organised various programmes to mark the birth anniversary of the saint-poet who is considered by many as the founder of Lingayat dharma.

Vachana recitation, discourses on Vachanas were held as part of the celebrations.

For the Basava Kendras it was a festival and several of them organised week-long programmes to mark the occasion. In the run-up to Basava Jayanti, the Basava Kendra on Gokul Road in Hubballi organised a 10-day programme with discourses on various Sharanas who were contemporary of Basavanna (Basaveshwara).

As work on elevated road at Kittur Chennamma Circle is under progress, the procession in Hubballi was shifted to Rayanala where the Basava Kendra is located. During the procession, the portrait of Basavanna and a mural of him was taken out from Arjun Vihar Cross. And, after covering the streets of Lohiya Nagar and Murarji Nagar, the procession concluded at Basava Samskruti School, where Basava Jayanti programme was organised. Along the route, scores of women from various Mahila Mandals sang the Vachanas in chorus.

Indira Glass House in Hubballi witnessed a steady flow of visitors who came to garland the equestrian statue of Basavanna and similar was the scene at Jubilee Circle in Dharwad, where the equestrian statue of Basaveshwara is installed.

The district administration in Dharwad organised a colourful procession to mark the occasion and an official programme was held in the evening in which Ministers took part.

In colleges, government offices and other places, Basava Jayanti was celebrated by offering floral tributes to Basavanna and conducting talks on his life and contribution and the social revolution he initiated during the 12th Century.

In all the districts of the region, official Basava Jayanti programmes were held at government offices and cultural programmes were organised at district and taluk centres. Motorcycle rallies by young motorcyclists with flags having the portrait of Basaveshwara tied to their handlebars was a common sight in all these districts.