CM Siddaramaiah Leads Karnataka Rajyotsava Celebrations
Synopsis
On Karnataka's 70th formation day, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar participated in the official Rajyotsava programme. The CMO shared the moments with a Kannada declaration: 'Our breath, our name, our livelihood is Kannada.'
Key Takeaways
November 1, 2026 marks Karnataka Rajyotsava , celebrating the state's formation in 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act.
Shivakumar participated in the official Rajyotsava programme as the state's head of government.
The CMO's post opened with the Kannada declaration: 'Our breath, our name, our livelihood is Kannada.' Karnataka was originally named Mysore State in 1956 and renamed Karnataka in 1973 .
The day is traditionally marked by conferring the Rajyotsava Prashasti — Karnataka's highest civilian honour — on distinguished citizens.
On the most important date in Karnataka's civic calendar — November 1, the state's formation day — the Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka shared moments from the Karnataka Rajyotsava programme where Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar took part in the official celebrations marking the state's founding anniversary.
The post, shared in Kannada, opens with a stirring declaration: 'ನಮ್ಮ ಉಸಿರು, ಹೆಸರು, ಕಸುಬು ಕನ್ನಡ' — 'Our breath, our name, our livelihood is Kannada.' Three words that carry the full weight of the day.
What Karnataka Rajyotsava marks
November 1 is celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava — the day in 1956 when Kannada-speaking regions were unified into a single state under the States Reorganisation Act, originally named Mysore State and renamed Karnataka in 1973. It is one of the most widely observed state formation days in India, marked by processions, cultural programmes, and official felicitations across the state.
The red-and-yellow flag of Karnataka flies prominently across Bengaluru and every district headquarters on this day, and the government typically confers the Rajyotsava Prashasti — Karnataka's highest state honour — upon distinguished citizens in fields ranging from literature and art to science and public service.
Shivakumar at the centre of the state's big day
D.K. Shivakumar, a veteran Congress leader and senior figure in Karnataka politics, participates in the Rajyotsava as the state's Chief Minister, presiding over felicitation ceremonies and paying tribute to the architects of Karnataka's unification. His presence at the official programme underlines the government's commitment to celebrating Kannada identity at the highest level.
The annual Rajyotsava also serves as a moment for the ruling government to reaffirm its cultural and linguistic commitments — from Kannada medium education policy to the protection of Kannada in official communication and commerce.
Sixty-eight years after unification, Karnataka's linguistic pride is no ceremonial footnote. It is a live political and cultural current — and every November 1, the state reminds the country exactly that.
Point of View
With each ruling party using the day to signal its cultural credentials. For the Congress government under D.K. Shivakumar, the imagery of a senior leader personally presiding reinforces its pitch as the authentic custodian of Kannada pride. In a state where linguistic identity is intertwined with electoral loyalty, Rajyotsava optics carry real political weight. The CMO's choice of a video post with a stirring Kannada slogan — rather than a formal press release — signals a deliberate move toward emotional, culture-first communication.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Karnataka Rajyotsava and why is it celebrated on November 1?
Karnataka Rajyotsava is celebrated on November 1 every year to mark the formation of Karnataka in 1956 , when Kannada-speaking regions were merged into one state under the States Reorganisation Act.
Who is D.K. Shivakumar?
D.K. Shivakumar is a senior Congress leader and the Chief Minister of Karnataka, known as a prominent figure in the state's politics and the party's organisational machinery.
What is the Rajyotsava Prashasti award?
The Rajyotsava Prashasti is Karnataka's highest state honour, awarded annually on November 1 to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Kannada language, culture, science, or public life.
When was the state renamed from Mysore to Karnataka?
The state was renamed from Mysore to Karnataka in 1973 , reflecting the broader Kannada-speaking identity of its people beyond the erstwhile Mysore kingdom.
What did the CMO post say about Kannada?
The CMO's post opened with the Kannada phrase 'ನಮ್ಮ ಉಸಿರು, ಹೆಸರು, ಕಸುಬು ಕನ್ನಡ' , which translates to 'Our breath, our name, our livelihood is Kannada,' celebrating the language and identity of the state.
