Mannam Jayanti is observed in Kerala on January 2 every year to commemorate the birthday of Mannathu Padmanabhan Pillai, a prominent social reformer and freedom fighter. This public holiday honors Mannam's significant contributions to the Nair community and his efforts to combat caste-based discrimination. He co-founded the Nair Service Society (NSS) in 1914, aiming to unify the Nairs, promote education, and improve social welfare. Mannam was actively involved in notable social protests, such as the Vaikom Satyagraha and Guruvayur Satyagraha, advocating for social equality and the opening of Hindu temples to low caste Hindus. Following his death in 1970, the government of Kerala declared his birthday a public holiday, and Mannam Jayanti is marked by various events to celebrate his legacy as a freedom fighter and reformer.