page_title: Bangalore Karaga
section_title: Karaga Shaktyotsava
hierarchical_section_title: Bangalore Karaga / Karaga Shaktyotsava
caption_attribution_description: English: The Dharmaraya Swamy Temple is unique as its dedicated to the Pandavas and Krishna and not found anywhere in India. The exact historical background of the city and the history of the temple like the name of the builder,date of construction is not clear.
context_page_description: Bengaluru Karaga is one of the oldest festivals celebrated in the heart of Bengaluru. Bengaluru Karaga is primarily a well-known tradition of 'Vahnikula Kshatriyas Thigala' community in southern Karnataka. The Karaga festival is generally led by the men of the community. There is a legend which gives them this privilege. Vahnikula Kshatriyas believe that in the last part of the Mahabharatha, when the Pandavas were shown a glimpse of hell, one last Asura called Thimirasura was still alive.
  At this time, Draupadi, the Pandava's wife, took the form of Shakthi devi. She created a huge army of soldiers called the Veerakumaras. After defeating the Asura, the soldiers asked Shakthi Devi to stay back with them. Though she had to go back, she promised them that she would come to stay with
  them every year during the first full moon of the first month of the Hindu calendar. Thigalas believe that they belong to this community of soldiers.
  In Karaga Draupadi is worshipped as an incarnation of Adiparashakti and Parvathi, which is said to have been the result of a boon granted to her by Lord Shiva or Lord Brahma, for her to have five husbands.
context_section_description: This is the festival of Draupadi.
  Participants in the Karaga bear the deity on their head without touching by hand and moving around. It is believed that the Draupadi will come down from heaven to earth and stay for three days with the community. In this connection the community will perform Vratha (religious practice) for 11 days in a year from the day of Chaitra Shashti.
  The Thigalas believe that Draupadi Shakti (power) brims over during the Karaga festival and the Karaga carrier dressed as a female is symbolic of Draupadi. It has a high ritualistic significance for Thigalas and they celebrate Draupadi, as they believe she is an ideal woman.
  The Karaga itself is a tall floral pyramid that is balanced on the carrier's head. The Karaga leaves the temple around midnight. The goddess is brought for the darshan of the devotees from the temple on the head of the Karaga-bearer.
  Karaga is a unique celebration that brings people of different religions together.
  Karaga commences with the flag-hoisting ceremony on the night of Saptami, the seventh day of the bright half of Chaitra, the first month in the Hindu calendar. It is on this day that the Kumbha or the holy pot, called the "Hasi Karaga," is made from the sediment of the Sampangi Tank. Later in the night, the Karaga is installed in a mantapa on the banks of the tank.
  Traditionally, the festivities begin with the recitation of mantras (incantations) and the hoisting of a ceremonial flag on the banks of Bengaluru’s Sampangi tank. On the seventh day Hasi-Karaga (tender Karaga) is brought from a salt water pond near the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple. Legend has it that Karaga carrier while in deep meditation in the waist deep water in the pond suddenly feels a weight on his head. Holding the object like he would a baby, he goes to the Sampangi tank. Then the object is brought back to the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple and placed next to the idol of Dharma. At this point it becomes the Karaga.
  The Karaga is expertly balanced on the carrier's head. The carrier, in his temporary avatar as Draupadi, goes to the houses of the veerakumaras where their families perform pooja to the Karaga. The carrier is practically in a trance even as he dances along with the veerakumaras (who are carrying their swords). By the time the procession returns to the temple it is dawn.
caption: Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple from the Bangalore Karaga in 2009
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