Karnataka Rajyotsava

Karnataka Rajyotsava ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವ
Traditional dance of Dollu Kunitha in progress as part of Rajyotsava
Also called	Karnataka Rajyotsava, Karnataka Formation Day
Observed by	Kannadigas in India and overseas
Type	State
Significance	Unification of Kannada-speaking regions of South India as the state of Karnataka
Celebrations	Hoisting of Karnataka flag, Processions, Cultural events, Rajyotsava Awards
Date	1 November
Next time	1 November 2017 (2017-11-01)

Kannada Rajyotsava (Kannada: ಕನ್ನಡ ರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವ; Karnataka Formation Day; literally "Birth of the Karnataka state") is celebrated on 1 November of every year. This was the day in 1956 when all the Kannada language-speaking regions of South India were merged to form the state of Karnataka.

The Rajyotsava day is listed as a government holiday in the state of Karnataka and is celebrated by Kannadigas across the world. It is marked by the announcement and presentation of the honours list for Rajyotsava Awards by the Government of Karnataka, hoisting of the unofficial Karnataka flag with an address from the Chief Minister and Governor of the state along with community festivals, orchestra, Kannada book releases and concerts.

Aluru Venkata Rao was the first person who dreamt of unifying the State as early as 1905 with the Karnataka Ekikarana movement. In 1950, India became republic and different provinces were formed in the country on basis of language spoken in the particular region and this gave birth to the state of Mysore including various places in south India, which were earlier ruled by the kings.

On 1 November 1956, Mysore state, comprising most of the area of the erstwhile princely state of Mysore, was merged with the Kannada-speaking areas of the Bombay and Madras presidencies, as also of the principality of Hyderabad, to create a unified Kannada-speaking sub national entity. North Karnataka, Malnad (Canara) and old Mysore were thus the three regions of the newly formed Mysore state.