Bangalore Karaga (Kannada ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಕರಗ) 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. There is a legend which gives them this privilege.Thigalas believe that in the last part of the Mahabharatha, when the Pandavas were shown a glimpse of hell, one last Asura (Demon) called Tripurasura was still alive. At this time, Draupadi, the Pandava's wife, took the form of Shakthi devi. She created a huge army of soldiers called the Veerakumaras. After defeating the Asura, the soldiers asked Shakthi Devi to stay back with them. Though she had to go back, she promised them that she would come to stay with them every year during the first full moon of the first month of the Hindu calendar.[Thigalas believe that they belong to this community of soldiers. he roots of Karaga go back over five centuries, and to the Thigala community which has kept the festival alive over the centuries. Mystery shrouds the origin of the Thigalas. By one account, the Thigalas sprung form the loins of the sage Angirasa whose progeny were the founders of most of the dynasties of South India. Yet another account attributes the origin of the Thigalas to Agni, the goddess of fire in the Hindu pantheon. The Puranas (scriptures) say that Draupadi emerged as the embodiment of an ideal woman. The Thigalas, who hold Draupadi as <b>...</b>
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