Bangalore Karaga celebrated with religious fervor

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Bangalore, April 25, 2013: 

The historic Bangalore Karaga which is being celebrated with religious fervor for the last couple of centuries was  celebrated with a large gathering around Dharmarayaswamy Temple in the center of the town.

The traditional procession started from Sri Dharmarayaswamy temple on Wednesday midnight ended in the wee hours of Thursday. Accompanied by thousands of  ‘Veerakumararu’ or valiant young men, the procession is being carried by H.C. Lokesh for the fourth time.

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.

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 brims over during the Karaga festival, that is infused with mythological theme and a rich seam of folklore.

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.  /ENN

Aftermath of Karaga: ENARADA Reader Lion M.K.Sagar  has sent these pictures.

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