Karaga festivities kick off at Dharmarayaswamy Temple

NT Correspondent

The historic Karaga festivities are set to make a comeback on the streets of the old city, after being confined to the temple premises for two years due to the pandemic.

The Dharmarayaswamy Temple near Nagarathpete will be the focus of the festival, which will be celebrated in a grand manner. The week-long celebration began Friday night and the main procession of the Karaga will take place on the night of April 16.

The temple’s Management Committee oversees the celebration and its rituals. The BBMP has allocated a sum of Rs 50 lakh for Karaga Mahotsava this year. BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta stated that officials have been informed to get the roads and footpaths on the Karaga’s route repaired.

“Deputation of staff including healthcare workers and arrangements for toilet facilities have been made. We request all the stakeholders and the people to co-operate in conducting the festival peacefully,” he said.

The District Administration has set up a Managing Committee which has met several times to allocate responsibilities. Various rituals will be performed on each day of the Karaga festival and ‘Hasi Karaga’ will take place on April 14. The main procession on April 16 will begin at night on a route touching the gates of the erstwhile Bengaluru Fort.

According to M.N. Anucheth, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru Central, the Police Department has made all arrangements to control traffic and crowd on Karaga’s designated route. “Around 450 policemen will be deployed on April 16. Platoons from Karnataka State Reserve Police will join us in maintaining law and order,” he said.

He added that all rituals including Karaga’s visit to Mastan Sab Dargah will take place according to the Committee’s plan. In wake of recent controversies, officials have urged people to maintain peace during Karaga.

Halasuru Gate Traffic Police informed that the roads around Dharmaraya Swamy Temple will be closed for traffic throughout the week. On April 16, SJP Road and Old Taluk Cutchery road will be barricaded. Traffic from the Jamia Masjid area will have to move towards Town Hall to reach Corporation Circle.

The main feature of Karaga is the long structure covered with flowers and carried on the head by a priest dressed in a saree. Several men with swords accompany the Karaga in a procession along the main streets of the ‘Pete’ area.

Karaga symbolises Draupadi Devi (from Mahabharata). It begins at Dharmarayaswamy temple and visits many old temples in the vicinity. Karaga’s ceremonial visit to the Mastan Saab Dargah is seen as a symbol of communal harmony.

Karaga originated in the Tigala community which speaks its own dialect. Kengeri, Ramagondanahalli, Varthur, Sidlaghatta, Sarjapura and Narasapura have their own versions of Karaga that are held every year.