Tumakuru (Karnataka), March 21 President Droupadi Murmu will visit the Siddaganga Math in Tumakuru on April 1 to participate in the 119th birth anniversary celebrations of Shivakumara Swamiji, Union Minister V Somanna said on Saturday.
Shivakumara Swamiji, the head of the renowned Siddaganga Math, passed away at the age of 111 on January 21, 2019, in Tumakuru.
The President is scheduled to arrive in Bengaluru on the evening of March 31 and travel to Tumakuru the next morning to attend the commemorative event and associated programmes at the Math, he said.
"On April 1, she will leave at 9 AM and arrive in Tumakuru by helicopter at 9.30 AM," Somanna said.
He said the President would visit the Samadhi (memorial) of Shivakumara Swamiji and interact with the students of the Math before participating in the main stage programme of the birth anniversary celebrations.
"After arriving in Tumakuru, she will attend the programme and then proceed to the memorial. Around 10,000 children will be gathered at one place, and she will spend about five minutes interacting with them," he said.
The minister said several dignitaries, including District In-charge Minister Parameshwara, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and other elected representatives, would be present during the event.
Describing the visit as significant, Somanna said, "Her visit to Tumakuru city and district is a matter of great pride for us, and we should all come together to welcome it."
He said preparations are underway to ensure the smooth conduct of the programme, with officials and stakeholders coordinating arrangements for the high-profile visit.