Karaga Festival

Karnataka is the best place in India to observe a large variety of fairs and festivals. These festivals of Karnataka represents the heritage and culture of Karnataka. The Karaga Festival of Karnataka is a nine day tradition of the Vanikula Kshatriya Thigalas community.

Karaga Festival of Karnataka is celebrated in the month of April on a full moon day which is according to the Hindu calender the Chaitra month. The Karaga Festival in Karnataka is held at the Dhamaraya Swamy Temple which is located in Bangalore. Karaga Festival observes the worshiping of the community deity, Debi Adishakti Draupadi. On the evening of the Karaga day, the priest dresses in a female attire symbolizing himself as goddess Draupadi. He then leads a procession where the dhoti clad Thigalars escorts him all through.

The priest in the attire of the goddess Draupadi leaves the temple during midnight wearing a yellow sari, bangles and mangalasutra which is a sacred chain of married women. People from all over the state and specially from Bangalore waits throughout the day to have a glimpse of the goddess Draupadi.

Lots of efforts are made by the people, one or two months before the Karaga Festival. The elderly people meet and discuss about the festival details and after the discussion they decide and fix up the time for Karaga Festival. The place is filled with an air of happiness and merriment during this festival of Karnataka.

The Karaga Festival is celebrated and enjoyed in various places of Karnataka such as Shanthinagar, Maluru, Kolar, Hoskote, Vijaypura, Devanahalli, Anaekallu and in Yelehanka.