Bengaluru Karaga is one of the
oldest festivals celebrated in the heart of Bengaluru. Bengaluru Karaga is
primarily a well-known tradition of 'Vahnikula
Kshatriyas Thigala' community in southern Karnataka. Vahnikula Kshatriyas
believe that in the last part of the Mahabharatha, when the Pandavas were shown
a glimpse of hell, one last Asura (Demon)
called Thimirasura 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. Thigalas
believe that they belong to this community of soldiers.
In Karaga Draupadi is worshipped
as an incarnation of Adiparashakti and Parvathi, which is said to have been
the result of a boon granted to her by Lord Shiva or Lord Brahma, for her to
have five husbands.
History
The roots of Karaga go back over
five centuries. Origin of the Thigalas by one account, the Thigalas sprung form
the lions of the sage Angirasa whose progeny were the founders of most of the
dynasties of South India.
Karaga Shaktyotsava
This is the festival of Draupadi.
Participants in the Karaga bear the deity on their head without touching by
hand and moving around. It is believed that the Draupadi will come down from
heaven to earth and stay for three days with the community. In this connection the
community will perform Vrata for 11 days in a year from the day of Chaitra
Shashti.
The Karaga itself is a tall floral
pyramid that is balanced on the carrier's head. The Karaga leaves the temple
around midnight. The goddess is brought for the darshan of the devotees from
the temple on the head of the Karaga-bearer. Karaga is a unique celebration
that brings people of different religions together.
Karaga commences with the
flag-hoisting ceremony on the night of Chaitra Saptami. It is on this day that
the Kumbha or the holy pot, called the "Hasi Karaga," is made from the sediment of the Sampangi Tank.
Later in the night, the Karaga is installed in a mantapa on the banks of the
tank.
Traditionally, the festivities
begin with the recitation of mantras (incantations) and the hoisting of a
ceremonial flag. On the seventh day Hasi-Karaga (tender Karaga) is brought from
a salt water pond near the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple. Legend has it that Karaga
carrier while in deep meditation in the waist deep water in the pond suddenly
feels a weight on his head. Holding the object, he goes to the Sampangi tank.
Then the object is brought back to the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple and placed next
to the idol of Dharma. At this point it becomes the Karaga.
The Karaga is expertly balanced on
the carrier's head. The carrier goes to the houses of the veerakumaras where
their families perform pooja to the Karaga. The carrier is practically in a
trance even as he dances along with the veerakumaras (who are carrying their
swords). By the time the procession returns to the temple it is dawn. The
Yellow flag is hoisted inside the temple courtyard and on the first day the
veerakumaras and the priest have Janivara
(thread) and sacred kankana, only
then can they do seve (serve) to her.
From 2nd to 6th days, in the evenings aarthi takes place at the Cubbon Park shakti peeta, and then at other 8 water
sources. On the 6th day ladies pray to Draupadi Devi with an elaborate aarati. The 7th day is hase Karaga when
symbolically the goddess is readied for her marriage. She emerges from the tank
like a bride. The veerakumaras pay their obeisance to her and escort her to the
Dharmaraya Swamy Temple. The 8th day is Pongal
seve.
On the pournami day the marriage of the goddess and the utsav murtis are taken in a procession.
The 10th day is shanthi pooje to Potha raja, also a protector and the brother
in law to the Pandavas. The 11th day is vasanth utsava, all rituals pertaining
to the festival will end the Karaga flag will be unfurled. Many rituals are
performed and the festival is brought to an end.
For over 800 years, the festival has been celebrated in the temple. One of the distinctive features of the Karaga is the participation in this festival by people of all creeds and communities.