Basava Jayanti: The “Commencement of a New Age”
In India, primarily in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, Monday is a state holiday honoring Basaveshwara (Basavanna), the 12th-century philosopher and statesman.
The Message: Basavanna was a revolutionary who rejected the caste system and gender prejudice, famously stating, “Work is Worship” (Kayaka). He established the Anubhava Mantapa (Hall of Spiritual Experience), often called the world’s first democratic parliament.
How it’s Celebrated:
Communal Feasts: In many villages, community kitchens (Dasoha) offer free meals to people of all castes and backgrounds.
Kudalasangama: Thousands of devotees will travel to the Kudalasangama temple in Karnataka, where Basavanna’s samadhi is located, for 24-hour spiritual discourses and chanting of his Vachanas (poetry).
Social Work: Many local organizations use this day to launch blood donation drives and literacy programs in his honor.
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