Bengaluru Karaga festival: Know its history and culture

Bengaluru is set to witness the grandeur of the historic Karaga festival on April 12, 2025, as the city prepares to celebrate one of Karnataka’s most ancient and revered cultural traditions. Held in the heart of the city, the festival is a vibrant symbol of Bengaluru’s rich heritage, blending myth, devotion, and community spirit.

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Rooted in the epic Mahabharata, the Karaga festival pays homage to Draupadi, whose strength and sacrifice are central to the event’s rituals. The centerpiece of the celebration is the Karaga itself — a decorated earthen pot representing the goddess. In a captivating ritual, a male priest, dressed in female attire to honor Draupadi, balances the pot on his head without any support and leads a grand nocturnal procession through the streets.

The Dharmaraya Swamy Temple in Thigalarapet, Old Bengaluru, becomes the focal point of this night-long celebration. With a history spanning over 800 years, the temple was built by the Vahni Kula Kshatriya community during the Chalukya era and remains deeply tied to the festival’s origins.

Beyond religious devotion, the Karaga festival has evolved into a powerful symbol of Bengaluru’s cultural continuity, drawing thousands of devotees and onlookers. As preparations begin, the city readies itself for a night of tradition, reverence, and unity.