Karaga
Encyclopedia
Karaga (Tamil
: கரகம்) One of the oldest festivals in Karnataka
, Karaga is primarily the festival of the Tigala
community of southern Karnataka
and the people of Tamil Nadu. Karaga is a popular festival in Bangalore
, Madikeri and Kolar
districts of Karnataka.This ritual is also carried out in Karkala.
the goddess of health and rain. She is also the protector from the dreaded small pox and cholera. This ritual is performed in the month of August. The idol of Mariamman is carried in procession.
The ritual pot filled with water and adorned with decorations several feet high is carried by the priest. The dancers perform various acrobatic feats while following the procession accompanied by a number of musical instruments like 'Thavil', "Nadaswaram", "Muni", "Udukkai", "Pambai", etc.
The Karagam dance is very popular in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh (Garagalu) and Karnataka(Karaga). It is an eye catching item with the performer carrying decorated and vertically piled vessels on their heads and donning colourful costumes dancing in a lively manner to the tune of Nagaswaram and the rhythm of Thavil. It is popular in villages during temple festivals.
that is balanced on the carrier's head. The contents of the pot have remained a secret down the centuries. The carrier's arrival is heralded by hundreds of bare-chested, dhoti-clad, turbaned Veerakumaras bearing unsheathed swords. Tradition has it that this frenzied procession of Veerakumaras accompanying the karaga carrier can execute him should he stumble and let the karaga fall. This festival that takes place in central part of the city is called as Bangalore Karaga
.
. Her mangala sutra (necklace symbolizing marriage) and bangles are worn by her husband and she is not to see him or the Karaga until the conclusion of the festival. The Tigala
s, who hold Draupadi
as their principal deity, believe that Draupadi Shakti (power) brims over during the Karaga festival and the Karaga carrier dressing as a female is symbolic of Draupadi. The Karaga is expertly balanced on the carrier's head. The carrier is practically in a trance even as he dances along with the Veerakumaras.The Veerakumaras hit the swords on their bare chest telling dik-di dik-di.
, particularly in the vastrakshepa (stripping) of Draupadi, the exile of the Pandavas and the death of Draupadi's sons at the hands of Ashwathama. After all these trials and tribulations, she emerged as a symbol of strong and ideal womanhood.
or Navarathri
. Four Mariyamma temples of the city start one karaga each. These four karagas are called as the shakthi devathas of the town. These karagas visit almost every home of Madikeri and take pooja. Here, Karaga festival is a 10-day festival, which starts a day after Mahalaya Amavasye and concludes on the day of Vijayadashami. The dance of these karagas is great to watch.
On the day of Vijayadashami, the karagas start after midnight and head towards Banni Mantap. After breaking the Banni, these karagas return to the temples.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
: கரகம்) One of the oldest festivals in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, Karaga is primarily the festival of the Tigala
Tigala
Thigalas, also known as Thigalaru it is a relatively new name of an endogamous social group or caste of people native to southern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and border regions of Tamil Nadu...
community of southern Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and the people of Tamil Nadu. Karaga is a popular festival in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, Madikeri and Kolar
Kolar
Kolara is a city in the South Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Kolar District. It is known for being one of the gold mining sites in India....
districts of Karnataka.This ritual is also carried out in Karkala.
Karaga festivities of Tamilnadu
Kargam is a folk dance of Tamil Nadu which originated as a ritual dedicated to MariammanMariamman
Māri ,Tulu, also known as Mariamman , both meaning "Mother Mari", spelt also Maariamma , or simply Amman or Aatha is the South Indian Hindu goddess of disease and rain. She is the main South Indian mother goddess, predominant in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and...
the goddess of health and rain. She is also the protector from the dreaded small pox and cholera. This ritual is performed in the month of August. The idol of Mariamman is carried in procession.
The ritual pot filled with water and adorned with decorations several feet high is carried by the priest. The dancers perform various acrobatic feats while following the procession accompanied by a number of musical instruments like 'Thavil', "Nadaswaram", "Muni", "Udukkai", "Pambai", etc.
The Karagam dance is very popular in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh (Garagalu) and Karnataka(Karaga). It is an eye catching item with the performer carrying decorated and vertically piled vessels on their heads and donning colourful costumes dancing in a lively manner to the tune of Nagaswaram and the rhythm of Thavil. It is popular in villages during temple festivals.
Karaga festivities of Karnataka
The karaga itself is a mud pot, on which stands a tall floral pyramidPyramid
A pyramid is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge at a single point. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, meaning that a pyramid has at least three triangular surfaces...
that is balanced on the carrier's head. The contents of the pot have remained a secret down the centuries. The carrier's arrival is heralded by hundreds of bare-chested, dhoti-clad, turbaned Veerakumaras bearing unsheathed swords. Tradition has it that this frenzied procession of Veerakumaras accompanying the karaga carrier can execute him should he stumble and let the karaga fall. This festival that takes place in central part of the city is called as Bangalore Karaga
Bangalore Karaga
Bangalore Karaga One of the oldest festivals celebrated in the heart of Bangalore. Bangalore Karaga is primarily a well-known tradition of Thigala community in southern Karnataka.The Karaga festival is generally led by the men of the community...
.
The Karaga Carrier
The Karaga carrier is taken from his home by the members of the Dharmaraya Temple. The carrier's wife takes on the role of a widowWidow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
. Her mangala sutra (necklace symbolizing marriage) and bangles are worn by her husband and she is not to see him or the Karaga until the conclusion of the festival. The Tigala
Tigala
Thigalas, also known as Thigalaru it is a relatively new name of an endogamous social group or caste of people native to southern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and border regions of Tamil Nadu...
s, who hold Draupadi
Draupadi
In the epic Mahābhārata, Draupadi, also known as ' is the "emerged" daughter of King Drupada of Panchāla and the wife of the five Pandavas. When Yudhisthira becomes the king of Hastinapura at the end of the war, Draupadi becomes the queen of Indraprastha...
as their principal deity, believe that Draupadi Shakti (power) brims over during the Karaga festival and the Karaga carrier dressing as a female is symbolic of Draupadi. The Karaga is expertly balanced on the carrier's head. The carrier is practically in a trance even as he dances along with the Veerakumaras.The Veerakumaras hit the swords on their bare chest telling dik-di dik-di.
Significance
The rituals have their origin in the MahabharataMahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, particularly in the vastrakshepa (stripping) of Draupadi, the exile of the Pandavas and the death of Draupadi's sons at the hands of Ashwathama. After all these trials and tribulations, she emerged as a symbol of strong and ideal womanhood.
Bangalore Karaga Route Map
The Karaga route beings at the Dharmarayaswamy temple and snakes through the old city via Cubbonpet, Ganigarapet, Avenue Road, Dodderpet, Akkipet, Balepet , Kilari Road, Nagarthpet and sorroundnig areas. The karaga carrier, now in his temporary avatar as Draupadi, goes to the houses of the Veerakumaras where their families perform pooja to the karaga. By the time procession returns to the temple it is dawn.Karaga in Ramagondanahalli( WhiteField,BANGALORE)
Karaga festival in Ramagondanahalli is celebrated in the month of March(On Holi Festival). In the name of the Drowpadi and Dharmaraya Swamy, the procession starts usually at midnight and visits all the houses of Ramagondanahalli, Varthur Kodi.Karaga in Madikeri
Karaga festival in Madikeri starts as part of Madikeri DasaraMadikeri Dasara
This article describes the way Dasara festival is celebrated in the city of Madikeri in the Indian State of Karnataka.It has an history of over 100 years. Madikeri Dasara is a 10 day celebration, which is beautified by 4 Karagas and 10 Mantapas depicting killing of Asuras [demons] by Suras...
or Navarathri
Navarathri
Navratri, Navaratri, or Navarathri is a Hindu festival of worship of Shakti and dance & festivities. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped...
. Four Mariyamma temples of the city start one karaga each. These four karagas are called as the shakthi devathas of the town. These karagas visit almost every home of Madikeri and take pooja. Here, Karaga festival is a 10-day festival, which starts a day after Mahalaya Amavasye and concludes on the day of Vijayadashami. The dance of these karagas is great to watch.
On the day of Vijayadashami, the karagas start after midnight and head towards Banni Mantap. After breaking the Banni, these karagas return to the temples.