Bengaluru Karaga to be held at midnight on April 1

BENGALURU: The countdown has begun for Bengaluru’s iconic Karaga festival, a revered tradition celebrated during Chaitra Poornima. Devotees are eagerly awaiting the grand procession, where the deity is carried on a flower-decorated pot.

This year’s Karaga festival, led by A Gnanaendra, promises to be a spectacular event, with special lighting arrangements inspired by Mysuru Dasara. The streets, including JC Road, Corporation Cirle and KR Market, are adorned with vibrant lights, creating a mesmerising ambiance.

The festival kicks off with the ‘Hasi Karaga’ procession at midnight, where the deity is taken from Sampige Kere to the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple. According to legend, Goddess Draupadi descends to Earth three days before Chitra Hunnime, taking the form of a child in the Hasi Karaga.

The main Karaga Shakyotsava will be held on April 1, marking the culmination of the celebrations.