Recently while going through my collection of Special Covers, I came across this beautiful special cover of World Famous Bangalore Karaga , that’s when I started googling to know more about the festival and found interesting facts about the festival.
Bangalore Karaga is a famous and one of the oldest festival celebrated in Bangalore. Bangalore Karaga is basically a traditional celebration of Thigala community of South India.
Ka Ra Ga in kannada means Ka (karagallinda muttade – without touching with hands) Ra (Rundada mele darisi – bearing on Head) Ga ( Gatisu – walk ).
Karaga procession commences on the night of Saptami, the seventh day of shukla paksha of Chaitra masa- the first month in the Hindu calendar.
A unique feature of the Karaga festival is that a man, dressed as a woman, carries the karaga on his head. The karaga is expertly balanced on the carrier's head. The carrier, in his temporary avatar as Draupadi, goes to the houses of the veerakumaras where their families perform pooja to the karaga. The carrier is practically in a trance even as he dances along with the veerakumaras (who are carrying their swords). By the time the procession returns to the temple it is dawn.
Karaga is a unique celebration that brings people of different religions together.
The Cover shows picture of the famous Dharmaraya Swamy Temple, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda and Karaga Carrier.
The Cancellation shows the karaga and swords.
