67th Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations: Rajinikanth, Jr NTR in attendance as Puneeth Rajkumar is honoured

The 67th Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations took place on Tuesday (November 1) at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Karnataka. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

A large crowd of people came together in front of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru to witness the celebrations on Kannada Formation Day, which is observed annually on November 1. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hoisted the Kannada flag on the occasion at Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, Bengaluru. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

In this picture, CM Bommai can be seen worshipping a deity during the ceremony organised by the Department of School Education and Literacy and Comprehensive Education in Bengaluru. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

Infosys Foundation Chairperson and Indian author Sudha Murthy, actors Rajinikanth and NT Rama Rao Jr. were guests at the event held on the foresteps of the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature and secretariat in Bengaluru on Tuesday. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

Late actor Puneeth Rajkumar was posthumously conferred with the state's highest civilian award – the Karnataka Ratna – at the ceremony. In this picture, people are seen cheering with life-sized portraits and flags of Rajkumar. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

Puneeth Rajkumar's wife Ashwini Revanath received the honours, conferred by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, upon the late actor, who passed away on October 29, 2021. He is the 9th recipient of this prestigious honour. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

Dancers perform at the inauguration held at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, to mark the 67th Kannada Rajyotsava Day. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

Although shortened and held in a hurried manner due to sudden rains in the city, the Rajyotsava Day celebrations included a performance by Kannada singer Vijay Prakash. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

Former Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K Sivan, actors Sihi Kahi Chandru, Dattanna, and Avinash were among the 67 personalities to be awarded with the Rajyotsava Award by the Karnataka government at Ravindra Kalakshetra, in Bengaluru, on Tuesday. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

Actors Rajnikanth and Shiva Rajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar's brother, hug each other at the celebrations. The day marks the establishment of the state, as Kannada-speaking regions in southern parts of India came together to form a separate state. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)