Mangalore:  The birth day of Kanakadasa, a saintly person of the time of St. Purandaradasa in Vijayanagara Empire, is observed as a public holiday in Karnataka under the govt. rules as on Nov.20, 2013.

A program was drawn up at the Town hall to celebrate the Kanakadasa Jayanthi, under the auspices of DK administration and DK Kurubara Sangha with a procession passing through the streets of the coastal city to Town hall opened up a colorful day of reminiscences of a lowly man of 16th century who visited Udupi and lived in Gadaga in Kaginele Temple premises.

Kanakadasa composed hundreds of devotional songs in the name of lord Adikeshava in his time. The Town hall function was inaugurated by fisheries Minister Abhayachandra Jain, who in his speech recalled that Kanaka ruled out distinction of cast and creed or sex, while singing the glory of God all his years.

Jain added  that the state govt. had several plans or schemes kept ready for the improvement of the Shepherd community in the state and also on the coastal areas were thousands of them are living, and these schemes will be implemented for the benefit of Kuruba’s and cowherds in the area as soon as possible.

The govt. as organizes Kanaka Jayanthi celebrations in every district were there exists, whether in DK or Bangalore.
He added that much more remains to be done for the welfare of all backward classes such as the Kurubas and cowherds.

ZP CEO Ms. Tulasi  Maddineni , Mangalore North MLA Moideen Bava,  ZP chief Ms. Yashavanthi Alva, Kannada and culture dept. assistant director Chandrahasa Rai, Kurubara Sangha president Ravikumar, VTU  Chancellor K.E . Prakash and many others were in the distinguished gathering.