Shri Dharmarayaswamy Temple in Thigalarpet
Qua. Pavan Kumar Pateel
BENGALURU. The city flagship festival, Bengaluru Karaga, is set to head into its climactic stage with the Draupadi Devi Karaga Shakthyotsava to be held post Thursday midnight
The procession will roll out of Shri Dharmarayaswamy Temple, Thigalarpet, at 12. 30 giờ sáng. The nightlong spectacle, where the Karaga, an earthen pot bedecked in flowers, will be carried by poojari Jnanendra will pass through various bylanes of the old city. It will cover the streets of Ulsoorpet, Nagarthpet, Cubbonpet, Ganigarapet, Avenue Road, Doddapet, Aralepet, Balepet, Kumbarpet and Gollarapet before returning to the temple
The Karaga will also receive aratis from temples en route and visit the Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan Saheb Dargah in Cottonpet, where Veerakumaras perform the rituals of alaguseve [service with the sword] and Muslims will receive the blessings from the Karaga
Nearly 5,000 Veerakumaras will accompany the Karaga and perform alaguseve at different spots in front of the Karaga. Karaga poojari A Jnanendra Vahnikula Gowda, 38, will be carrying it for the 12th consecutive year. As part of the annual festival, thousands of devotees on Tuesday offered traditional puja to Draupadi Devi at Shri Dharmarayaswamy Temple
K Satish, president of Shri Dharmarayaswamy Temple committee and Bengaluru Karaga Samithi, said, "We witnessed over 10,000 women devotees perform the Arati Deepotsava. For the procession, we expect nearly 6-8 lakh people, but the number may go up. "
The annual Bengaluru Karaga, one of the oldest community festivals in the city, will be held from March 29 to April 8 at the Dharmarayaswamy temple at Thigalarapet in the heart of the city
Karaga refers to a sacred floral pot carried by a man resplendently dressed as a woman. The 11-day festival starts with the flag hoisting on the night of March 29, with several rituals being performed each day thereafter. The main festival, ‘Karaga Shaktyotsava’, will be on April 6
On Tuesday, Chickpet MLA Uday B. Garudachar along with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike [BBMP] Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath released the invitation of the Karaga festival and held a meeting regarding the festivities with the stakeholders, including the temple Karaga committee
“Adequate lighting has been ensured and portable toilets will be placed along the procession route. The BBMP will also set up medical centres. The Police Department will install additional CCTV cameras,” the BBMP said in a release
Bengaluru Karaga Samithi and the BBMP chief commissioner released the calendar of events on Tuesday
BENGALURU. The city's flagship festival, Bengaluru Karaga, will be celebrated with pomp and gaiety at Shri Dharmarayaswamy Temple in Tigalarpet from March 29 to April 8
Bengaluru Karaga Samithi and the BBMP chief commissioner released the calendar of events on Tuesday. Priest Jnanendra Vahnikula Gowda will carry the Karaga this year, as he has been doing for the last 12 years
After a meeting with the BBMP chief, organisers of the over 300-year-old festival said they are expecting 6-8 lakh people to witness the Draupadi Devi Karaga Shakthyotsava and Shri Dharmarayaswamy Maha Rathotsava. The procession will be rolled out from Dharmarayaswamy Temple at 12. 30am on April 6, Chaithra Poornima Day, as per the Hindu calendar. The floral Karaga procession on the last day will cover 38km and pass through the streets of Ulsoorpete, Nagarthpet, Cubbonpet, Ganigarapete, Avenue Road, Doddapete, Aralepete, Balepete, Kumbarpete and Gollarapete
The Karaga receives aartis from nearby temples and visits Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan Saheb Dargah in Cottonpet. Some right-wing groups had raised objections to the dargah visit, but organisers said it is a symbol of religious harmony that Karaga espouses, and will continue
"The practice has been followed for years now. We don't want it to be discontinued, and Goddess Draupadi Devi will lead the procession," said K Satish, president of Shri Dharmarayaswamy Temple committee and Bengaluru Karaga Samithi
Bengaluru is set to see the much-awaited night-long procession of the annual Karaga festival on Thursday after midnight. In this light, the Bengaluru traffic police department issued a fresh traffic advisory, blocking vehicular movement in some areas and providing alternative routes instead
What is the Karaga festival?
The Karaga is an annual celebration of Draupadi, the community deity of the Vanihikula Kshatriyas, who honour her as the ideal woman representing woman power. This year, the festival has been running since last Wednesday and is set to see a spectacular end in the form of the Draupadi Devi Karaga Shakthyotsava tonight
ĐỌC. Karaga Festival of Bengaluru. All you need to know
Every year, the Karaga attracts lakhs of devotees and tourists from different parts of the city. It takes place at the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple in Thigalarpet, Bengaluru. The end of the celebrations is marked by a night-long procession, which is said to be the highlight of the festival. It is usually held on the full moon night and starts from the temple at around midnight. The procession this year will start at 12 am and end at 6 am on Friday morning
Diversions and Parking Facilities
To manage traffic congestions and ensure smooth passage of the procession, Dr Suman D Pennekar, DCP West, issued an advisory and said, “Due to the Karaga festival, diversions would be implemented as notified. Commuters make note and kindly cooperate. ”