Basava Jayanti is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth anniversary of the 12th-century poet-philosopher Basavanna, a key figure in the Lingayat tradition. It is celebrated by Lingayats in states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, and falls on the third day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Vaisakha. The festival is a public holiday in Karnataka and emphasizes Basavanna’s teachings of gender equality, social reform, and equal opportunity.
- Who it honors: The festival celebrates the birth anniversary of Basavanna, a saint, statesman, and social reformer. He was the founder of the Lingayatism sect of Shaivism.
- When it’s celebrated: The date follows the Hindu calendar, typically falling in April or May, and is observed on the third day of the waxing moon in the month of Vaisakha. In 2025, it fell on April 30th.
