Bengaluru Karaga | ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಕರಗ

In this special episode of Noorakke Nooru Karnataka, we step into the heart of one of Bengaluru’s oldest and most vibrant traditions—the Bengaluru Karaga. New host Varsha Ramachandra is joined by historian and storyteller Dharmendra Kumar Arenahalli, who has spent years documenting this unique festival.

Held in the lunar month of Chaitra, the Karaga is a spectacular night-time procession through the city’s historic Pete area. At its centre is a flower-adorned Karaga bearer, who channels the spirit of Draupadi, the warrior-goddess from the Mahabharata. We explore how the Thigala community, once caretakers of Bengaluru’s lakes and temple gardens, continue to uphold this tradition even as the city rapidly changes. We also trace the origins of the Karaga, its symbolic rituals like the Gange Puje, and its powerful gesture of interfaith harmony a ...