When India became Republic and the states were formed, Mysore became one of the states of Southern India. However People of North and Hyderabad Karnataka area did not accept the name Mysore and were demanding a change in the name. After prolonged debate the name of the state was changed to Karnataka on November 1, 1973.

Officially the new state was born on Nov. 1 and this day is celebrated as Kannada Rajyotsava or Karnataka Rajyotsava. Rajyotsava means "birth of a state".