Karaga Festival at Dharmarayaswamy temple Bengaluru
This article gives information on the 2011 Bengaluru Karaga Festival at Dharmarayaswamy temple, location and contact information of the Dharmarayaswamy temple, features, etc.
The Dharmarayaswamy temple is a well known temple in Bangalore. It is here that the annual nine-day Karaga festival of Bangalore takes place, with thousands of devotees from all over the country coming here to celebrate the festival. The architecture of the temple is along the Dravidian style and has 3 majestic towers. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Shakti.Features of Bangalore Karaga Festival
Karaga refers to a mud pot which is carried by a male dressed in femal garb. Atop the pot is a tall pyramid made of flowers. The pot is taken from the Sampangi salt water tank and first placed in the inner sanctum of the temple before being born by the karaga carrier. It is a great honour to be selected as the karaga carrier. The chosen karaga carrier is expected to remain in seclusion within the temple premises till the time of the festival. He then carries the karaga atop his head to all the homes of the Veerakumaras. The Veerakumaras are a group of men selected from the Tigala community a couple of days before the festival begins. They have to remain chaste till the end of the festival celebrations. They are an important part of the karaga procession. Dressed in dhotis, the bare-chested men carry unsheathed swords. They perform a mock execution of the karaga carrier if he happens to drop the holy karaga. The procession ends back at the temple, and the karaga pot is returned to the tank.
At the Dharmarayaswamy temple, there are special pujas and aartis. Most of these are done early morning before 5a.m., but there are pujas in the evenings too, at around 7.30p.m. on all the days of the festival. Route of 2011 Bangalore Karaga Festival
This is the general route of the traditional Karaga festival procession:
Temple - Cubbonpet – Ganigarapet - Avenue Road – Dodderpet – Akkipet – Balepet - Kilari Road – NagarthpetLocation of Dharmarayaswamy temple Bengaluru
The Dharmarayaswamy temple is located in the central area of Bangalore. To be more precise it is located between the City Market area and Richmond Town in the area known locally as Thigalarpet.
Address of Dharmarayaswamy temple Bengaluru
Shree Dharamaraya Swamy Temple
Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple Main Road, (OTC Road)
Thigalarpet,
Bangalore -560 002
Ph: 91-80-55334310
Karaga Festival Karnataka
