<p>Accompanied by 3,000 ‘Veerakumararu’ or valiant young men, the procession is being carried by Gyanendra this year, a third time for him. Expected to begin at 12 midnight on Tuesday, the procession will pass through the old parts of the City. Lakhs of devotees are expected to congregate along the route taken by the Karaga.<br /><br />One of the oldest festivals celebrated in the heart of Bangalore, the Karaga is primarily a tradition of Thigala community of the City who lead the procession. <br /><br />The roots of Karaga go back to over five centuries, and to the Thigala community which has kept the festival alive. The Thigalas, who hold Draupadi as their principal deity, believe that Draupadi shakti (power) brims over during the Karaga festival, that is infused with mythological theme and a rich seam of folklore. Participants in the Karaga bear the deity on their head without touching by hand and move. It is believed that the goddess Adishakthi Draupadi will come down from heaven to earth and stay for three days with the community. <br /><br />A unique feature of the Karaga festival is that a man, dressed as a woman, carries the Karaga on his head. While a few say that it is a celebration of womanhood and femininity, a section claims that it is the result of Draupadi's curse as an insult to Yudhistira, who let the Kauravas humiliate her in Kaurava’s court.<br /><br />From Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Sannidhi to Rama Seva Mandir - Cubbonpet, Venugopala Swamy Temple - Nagrathpet, Byreshwara Temple and Makkala Basavanna - Siddana Line, Channarayaswamy Temple - Ganigarapet, Chamundeshwari Temple - Chickpet Main Road, Eshwara Temple - Avenue Road, Kote Anjeneya - Doddapet, then traversing across KR Market for visiting across Murahari Swamy Mata - Ranasinghpet, pass through Beerdevaragudi in Akkipet Main Road and later moves towards Aralepet on the way visiting the Muslim Shrine (Dargah) while paying obeisance at the Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan Dargah in Balepet, Balegaradi - Balepet, Annamma Devi Temple near Subedar Chatram Road (Majestic area). And while returning also the Karaga visits Shri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple in Kilari Road including Anjeneya temple in Yelahanka Gate then, Tuppada Anjaneyagudi at Avenue Road and receives pooja at Chowdeshwari temple then moving to Kumbarpet main road, Gollarapet. Later, in Thigalarapet Karaga receives pooja in the houses of Veerakumaras, Gummata (Vegetable Market) near Cubbonpet. <br /><br />Then, the Karaga will be received by Kulapurohita at his house at Sunnakalpet and return back to Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Accompanied by 3,000 ‘Veerakumararu’ or valiant young men, the procession is being carried by Gyanendra this year, a third time for him. Expected to begin at 12 midnight on Tuesday, the procession will pass through the old parts of the City. Lakhs of devotees are expected to congregate along the route taken by the Karaga.<br /><br />One of the oldest festivals celebrated in the heart of Bangalore, the Karaga is primarily a tradition of Thigala community of the City who lead the procession. <br /><br />The roots of Karaga go back to over five centuries, and to the Thigala community which has kept the festival alive. The Thigalas, who hold Draupadi as their principal deity, believe that Draupadi shakti (power) brims over during the Karaga festival, that is infused with mythological theme and a rich seam of folklore. Participants in the Karaga bear the deity on their head without touching by hand and move. It is believed that the goddess Adishakthi Draupadi will come down from heaven to earth and stay for three days with the community. <br /><br />A unique feature of the Karaga festival is that a man, dressed as a woman, carries the Karaga on his head. While a few say that it is a celebration of womanhood and femininity, a section claims that it is the result of Draupadi's curse as an insult to Yudhistira, who let the Kauravas humiliate her in Kaurava’s court.<br /><br />From Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Sannidhi to Rama Seva Mandir - Cubbonpet, Venugopala Swamy Temple - Nagrathpet, Byreshwara Temple and Makkala Basavanna - Siddana Line, Channarayaswamy Temple - Ganigarapet, Chamundeshwari Temple - Chickpet Main Road, Eshwara Temple - Avenue Road, Kote Anjeneya - Doddapet, then traversing across KR Market for visiting across Murahari Swamy Mata - Ranasinghpet, pass through Beerdevaragudi in Akkipet Main Road and later moves towards Aralepet on the way visiting the Muslim Shrine (Dargah) while paying obeisance at the Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan Dargah in Balepet, Balegaradi - Balepet, Annamma Devi Temple near Subedar Chatram Road (Majestic area). And while returning also the Karaga visits Shri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple in Kilari Road including Anjeneya temple in Yelahanka Gate then, Tuppada Anjaneyagudi at Avenue Road and receives pooja at Chowdeshwari temple then moving to Kumbarpet main road, Gollarapet. Later, in Thigalarapet Karaga receives pooja in the houses of Veerakumaras, Gummata (Vegetable Market) near Cubbonpet. <br /><br />Then, the Karaga will be received by Kulapurohita at his house at Sunnakalpet and return back to Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple.<br /><br /></p>
