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Karaga Bangalore - 2010 - BangaloreBest.com
Bangalore Karaga (Kannada ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಕರಗ) One of the oldest festivals celebrated in the heart of Bangalore. Bangalore Karaga is primarily a well-known tradition of Thigala community in southern Karnataka.The Karaga festival is generally led by the men of the community. There is a legend which gives them this privilege.Thigalas believe that in the last part of the Mahabharatha, when the Pandavas were shown a glimpse of hell, one last Asura (Demon) called Tripurasura was still alive. At this time, Draupadi, the Pandava's wife, took the form of Shakthi devi. She created a huge army of soldiers called the Veerakumaras. After defeating the Asura, the soldiers asked Shakthi Devi to stay back with them. Though she had to go back, she promised them that she would come to stay with them every year during the first full moon of the first month of the Hindu calendar

This is the festival of Adhishakthi Droupadi. The literary meaning of Karaga is expanded and explained as Ka + Ra + Ga.

Expansion of the word KARAGA
ಕನ್ನಡ ಅಕ್ಷರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಬಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ Character In English
ಕ ಕೈಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಟ್ಟದೆ KA Without touching in hand
ರ ರುಂಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಧರಿಸಿ RA Bearing on the head
ಗ ಗತಿಸುವುದು / ಚಲಿಸುವುದು GA Moving around

Participants in the karaga bear the deity on their head without touching by hand and moving around. It is believed that the goddess Adishakthi Draupadi will come down from heaven to earth and stay for three days with the community. In this connection the community will perform Vratha (religious practice) for 11 days in a year from the day of Chaitra Shrasthi.