Legislative Council chairman Basavaraj Horatti inaugurated Kittur Utsav in Kittur on Tuesday evening.
He urged the State government to take all steps to develop Kittur into a tourist spot. He urged youth to inculcate the qualities of Queen Chennamma and face difficulties in life with courage and conviction.
Earlier, a colourful procession was taken out to mark the inauguration of the utsav. Dollu Kunita, Gombe Kunita, folk dance and drill teams from across the State participated.
The town was decorated for the utsav.
A handicrafts exhibition was inaugurated.
Heli tourism facility was launched for the period of the utsav. Cultural programmes were organised in the evening.
MLAs Mahantesh Doddagoudar, Mahantesh Koujalgi and Ganesh Hukkeri, Deputy Commissioner S.B. Bommanahalli and others were present. The annual celebration is organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture in the historic city to commemorate the heroic battle of Queen Chennamma against the British in 1824.