Bengaluru Karaga is an annual festival celebrated in the halasuru Pete, primarily by the Vahnikula Kshatriya which belongs to Chalukya dynasty community.
Karaga pooja and festivals have been celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh thelangana and Mahabalipuram pancha Ratha which is built by this vahnikula Kshatriya or Pallava dynasty palligaru community which has a huge majority of 5cr people in southern India we can see one of the oldest Droupadi temple in moolampet Nellore Andhra since ages.
It is learnt that there are forty lakh (four million) people belonging to the Vahnikula Kshatriya community living throughout the state: Hoskote, Malur, Kolar, Bengaluru and Anekal taluks have high populations of the Vahnikula Kshatriya community in both urban and rural areas.
The Dharmaraya Swamy temple in the pete area of Bangalore is the center of nine-day festivities that begins after Ugadi.
Each day of the festivities have a significant ritual associated with it, beginning with the Dwajarohana, Aartiseva, Deepotsava on Dwadashi, creation and installation of Hasikaraga on Trayodashi, Pongaluse on Chaturdashi and Karagada Utsav on Purnami.
Hasi Karaga/Pacchi Kargu: On the day of Chaitrasuddha Trayodashi, the Karaga Pujari, clan priests, veerakumaras and clansmen gather at the Sampangi lake courtyard, a little to the east of the Dharmarayaswamy temple, around midnight.
Amidst the encircling veerakumaras, the Karaga pujari devoutly picks up the karagava and keeps it on the left side of his waist.
Guided by the sound of the bell, everyone joins the temple with mangala vaadya and only the priest enters the sanctum sanctorum.
After honoring the clansmen and invitees in the enclosure, the gigantic chariot carrying the Utsava murtis of Arjuna and Draupadi moves a short distance towards the east.
As the nadasvara, bells are resounding, the priest wearing a Karaga decorated with jasmine flowers on his head emerges from the sanctum sanctorum like a goddess.
After the Maha Mangalarati, the temple begins with a Karaga procession receiving the devotion of innumerable devotees under the eulogistic direction of Gante Pujari.
Another inexhaustible attraction is the Pallakki of many gods of the city, the colorful festival of pavilions, which leaves with the night chariot.
[1][2] Bengaluru Karaga was initially cancelled from a decision taken by the Deputy Commissioner, fearing the transmission of COVID-19 from a large-scale gathering of people and local community during the lock down period.
"In view of the Centre’s directions and Disaster Management Act, 2005, the festivities should not be held," the order reads.
The state government granted permission for the popular festival by relaxing the lock down norms for the Karaga event scheduled to be held on 8 April 2020.
However, the Chief Minister of Karnataka Mr. B S Yeddyurappa gave permission to go ahead for the Karaga with a rider that not more than five persons be allowed to congregate during this annual festival.