Kempegowda’s native village celebrates his birth anniversary with fervour

CHIKKABALLAPUR: Descendants of Bengaluru founder Kempegowda and other villagers celebrated his 516th birth anniversary at his native Avathi village in Devanahalli taluk on Friday. Avathi is the native village of Ranabhyregowda, a forefather of Kempegowda.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa inaugurated the Pura Jyothi and Kalasa procession from the Chennakeshavaswamy temple in the village. The Pura Jyothi and a silver idol of Kempegowda were taken out in procession in a chariot to Bengaluru. Deputy Commissioner A B Basavaraj was also present.

The 108-feet-tall statue of Kempegowda near the international airport was bedecked with flowers. Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, ministers Krishna Byregowda and K H Muniyappa, along with Adichunchanagiri Math seer Balagangadharanatha Swami paid floral tributes to the statue of Kempegowda.

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy CM said five acres of land has been granted to the Kempegowda Development Authority and the ground-breaking ceremony for a grand building will be conducted soon.