Kempegowda Jayanti 2025: K'taka to celebrate on June 27 with 15 lakh saplings, statewide events
Synopsis
Karnataka is going all out for Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti on 27 June — ₹1 lakh per constituency across 224 seats, 15 lakh saplings in a single day, and events stretching from Bengaluru's four historic towers to Kempegowda International Airport. CM Shivakumar is framing the founder of Bengaluru as a unifying icon for all communities, with long-term legacy projects including a Town Planning College and a public theme park also in the pipeline.
Key Takeaways
Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti will be celebrated on 27 June 2025 at Kempegowda Layout , Bengaluru, with the main event at 11.30 am .
The BDA will plant 15 lakh saplings across Bengaluru on the occasion.
Each of Karnataka's 224 Assembly constituencies will receive a grant of ₹1 lakh ; Bengaluru's 369 wards will each receive an additional ₹1 lakh via the Greater Bengaluru Authority .
A Town Planning College in Kempegowda's name is proposed at the Visvesvaraya Technological University campus.
The Kempegowda Theme Park at Devanahalli Airport has been completed and will soon open to the public.
Proposals tabled at the preparatory meeting include restoration of Kempegowda Fort , a dedicated museum, lake rejuvenation, and a government holiday on Kempegowda Jayanti.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday, 16 June announced that Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti will be celebrated on 27 June 2025 at the newly developed Kempegowda Layout in Bengaluru, with large-scale programmes planned across all 224 Assembly constituencies of the state to honour the city's founder.
Main Event and Key Highlights
The central celebration will be held at 11.30 am at Kempegowda Layout, Shivakumar confirmed after a preparatory meeting at Vidhana Soudha. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will simultaneously carry out a massive plantation drive, planting 15 lakh saplings across Bengaluru under the leadership of its chairman. A newly constructed road within the layout will also be inaugurated on the occasion.
Statewide Coordination and Tower Tradition
Separate contingents will arrive from Bengaluru's four historic Kempegowda towers, continuing an annual tradition. Ministers Ramalinga Reddy, Krishna Byre Gowda, K.J. George, and Byrathi Suresh have been assigned responsibility for coordinating activities tied to each of the four towers. The Magadi contingent will be led by local MLA H.C. Balakrishna, while MLA M. Ranganath will coordinate the group from Huliyurdurga. Minister K.H. Muniyappa will oversee programmes at Kempegowda International Airport.
Financial Outlay and Ward-Level Celebrations
The state government will extend a grant of ₹1 lakh to each of Karnataka's 224 Assembly constituencies to fund local celebrations. An identical grant of ₹1 lakh will be provided for events in each of Bengaluru's 369 wards through the Greater Bengaluru Authority. Dates for ward-level programmes will be finalised separately by the ministers concerned.
Legacy Projects and New Proposals
Shivakumar announced that the government is working to establish a Town Planning College in Kempegowda's name at the Visvesvaraya Technological University campus. The Kempegowda Theme Park at Devanahalli Airport has been completed and is being readied for public opening. During the preparatory meeting, participants proposed several further initiatives — including development of Kempegowda's samadhi site, restoration of Kempegowda Fort, construction of a dedicated museum, rejuvenation of Bengaluru's lakes, inclusion of his life story in school textbooks, and declaration of a government holiday on Kempegowda Jayanti.
Inclusive Message from the CM
Emphasising the cross-community character of the event, Shivakumar stated that Kempegowda was not the icon of any single caste or religion. 'Kempegowda is an asset of Bengaluru and Karnataka. People from all religions, communities and organisations will participate in the celebrations,' he said. The government's framing positions the Jayanti as a unifying civic occasion rather than a sectarian one — a notable signal ahead of the event.
Point of View
Museum, school textbooks, government holiday — suggests the Jayanti is as much a political positioning exercise as a cultural one. Whether the legacy projects move beyond the announcement stage will be the real measure of intent.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is Kempegowda Jayanti 2025 being celebrated?
Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti 2025 will be celebrated on 27 June at the newly developed Kempegowda Layout in Bengaluru, with the main event scheduled at 11.30 am. Statewide programmes will also be held across all 224 Assembly constituencies of Karnataka.
What is the government grant for Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations?
The Karnataka government will provide ₹1 lakh to each of the state's 224 Assembly constituencies and an additional ₹1 lakh to each of Bengaluru's 369 wards through the Greater Bengaluru Authority to fund local celebrations.
What is the BDA plantation drive announced for Kempegowda Jayanti?
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will plant 15 lakh saplings across Bengaluru on 27 June under the leadership of its chairman, as part of the Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations.
What new projects has the Karnataka government announced in Kempegowda's name?
The government is working to establish a Town Planning College in Kempegowda's name at the Visvesvaraya Technological University campus. The Kempegowda Theme Park at Devanahalli Airport has also been completed and is being prepared for public opening.
What proposals were raised at the Kempegowda Jayanti preparatory meeting?
Participants at the preparatory meeting proposed development of Kempegowda's samadhi site, restoration of Kempegowda Fort, construction of a museum, rejuvenation of Bengaluru's lakes, inclusion of his life story in school textbooks, and declaration of a government holiday on Kempegowda Jayanti.
