A number of blood donation camps and cleanliness drives were held across the district on Monday to mark Basava Jayanti.
A cleanliness drive was held at ward number 19 in the city under the aegis of Basava Kendra. Basava Marulasidda Swamiji and member of Shivamogga City Corporation Nagaraj Kankari took part in the drive. A portrait of Basavanna and books related to Vachana literature were carried on a palanquin in a procession on the main streets of the city.
Ambali Dasoha, a programme in which gruel is served to devotees, was held at Basava Kendra later. Many civic workers were felicitated on the occasion. A blood donation camp was held on the premises of Basaveshwara temple, in Gandhi Bazaar locality, and at Basava Kendra in Shikaripur town.
‘Must end discrimination’
Addressing the Basava Jayanti programme, held under the aegis of district administration at Kuvempu Rangamandir in the city later, Shivamogga MP B.S. Yeddyurappa said that the real tribute can be paid to Basavanna only by eradicating discrimination practiced in the name of caste, class and gender.
“Basavanna and other vachanakaras in 12th century did all they could to create awareness among the people about the evils of caste system and superstitious practises. For Basavanna, the vachanas were not a mere literary exercise but a means to create awareness. He articulated his rational views through the vachanas,” Mr. Yeddyurappa said.
“We should adopt the principles of Kayaka, with respect to physical labour and ‘dasoha’, the act of donating wealth one has earned through hardwork to society, as advocated by Basavanna, in our personal lives to create a healthy and progressive society,” he added.
Speaker of Legislative Council D.H. Shankaramurthy, member of Rajya Sabha Ayanur Manjunath, Shikaripur MLA B.Y. Raghavendra and Shivamogga MLA K.B. Prasanna Kumar were present.
