Bengaluru Karaga

Mysore Dasara and Bengaluru Karaga are the world famous festival of Karnataka. The Bengaluru Karaga is the festival of Vanhikula Kshathriyas (Thigala) community schedule to perform on Chaitra Poornima day of every year. This is the festival of Adhishakthi Droupadi . The literary meaning of Karaga is expanded and explained as Ka-Ra-Ga. The Ka= Kailli Muttade (without touching by hand) Ra= Rundadalli Dharisi(bearing on the head) Ga= Ghatisuvudu/Chalisuvudu (moving around) The total meaning of Karaga is bearing the diety on the head without touching by hand and moving around... ( Actual meaning of Karaga is Hidden due to varisous reason ) It is believed that Godess Adhishakthi Droupadi will come down from heven to the earth and stay for three days with the community people . In this connection the community will perform vratha for 11 days in a year from the day of Chaitra Shrashti to 11 days The details of vratha is given below.. 1st Day- Dwajarohana :The vratha starts with Dwajarohana on chaitra shrashti day. The Kula Gowda (Community chief) , Dasaiah, Kolkara(Sevak) & Veerakumaras Bring to the temple the Krathas like Ganachari, Gante poojari , Karaga Poojari & Potharaja Poojari (different Priest) to the temple. The Kula purohita (Chief priest) performs Shuddi Karya (punyaha)for the temple followed by the Utsava of Arjuns & Droupadi along with the Dwajha. After that th devotees of Jaraganahalli offer a Bamboo pole having 48 shoots to the temple as a tradition.The Kula Purohita perform abhisheka, Shanthi pooja & Dwajharohana along with the karaga poojari in the Brahmi Muhurtha. After dwajharohana temple krathas Chaakaridharas, Veerakumaras gets into deeksha by wearing Kankana & the sacred thread ,by this vratha commences."