Bengaluru (The Hawk): Koti Kanta Gayana, a programme held on Friday in preparation for the 67th Kannada Rajyotsava, attracted more than one crore participants from across Karnataka and abroad.
At predetermined spots spread out around the state, people from all social strata gathered to sing traditional Kannada songs.
According to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, the state administration is committed to creating a bright future for Karnataka and has expressed reverence for Goddess Bhuvaneshwari through "Koti Kanta Gayana."
In a press conference following the program's Friday introduction at the Kanteerava Stadium in this city, Bommai declared that today is a special day for the state of Karnataka because more than one crore people have joined together to sing six well-known Kannada songs at once to strengthen the close ties among all Kannadigas.
"These songs are intended to make every Kannadiga forget everything and sing exclusively in Kannada, and the people have proven this to be true. Every village sang these songs in homage to Goddess Bhuvaneshwari. The event was most meticulously organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture "added he.
The CM continued by saying that even though Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar passed away a year ago, millions of Kannadigas still think of him fondly.
The state government has chosen to award him the "Karnataka Ratna" posthumously on November 1 in honour of his contributions to the Kannada language. Rajinikanth, a superstar, has been invited to attend as the event's primary guest.
State ministers and former chief ministers B.S. Yediyurappa and D.V. Sadananda Gowda were present.
(Inputs from Agencies)