This year marks the 50th anniversary of the state's renaming as Karnataka in 1973 which was previously known as Mysore state.

Karnataka Rajyotsava represents the unification of Kannadigas who were previously scattered across different regions. It is a celebration of Karnataka and its rich cultural heritage.

Karnataka Rajyotsava is often touted as a day for Kannadigas to take pride in their culture, traditions, and language.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his wishes and highlighted the hard work and sacrifices of those who worked for the state's formation.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar also congratulated the people and emphasized the significance of Kannada.

Karnataka was founded in 1956, following the State Reorganisation Act, bringing together Kannada-speaking regions. It was initially known as Mysore State.

On Rajyotsava, a ceremony was held at Bengaluru's Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium wherein students put forth cultural spectacle showcasing the vivid traditions of the southern state.

CM Siddaramaiah, addressing a gathering at the stadium, pitched for holding competitive exams for union government jobs in Kannada stating it isn't possible to conduct them in English or Hindi alone.

He observed the underlying necessity to converse in Kannada; he said people should be proud of their language and culture so that those coming to Karnataka should feel the necessity to learn this language.

Besides Karnataka, other states like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry also celebrate their formation day on November 1.