The event promotes art
forms like Hindustani
classical music, classical
dance, Jazz, street
theatre, Rocks music and
sports like, tennis, Golf
and swimming. Artists
from different parts of
India participate in
different events and work
towards cultural unity.
Bangalore Karaga
Festival
The festival is celebrated
in Dharmaraya temple
every year during the
month of March and
April. The festival is
celebrated by the Thilaga
community to worship
Goddess Shakti. It starts
from the day of Chaitra
poornima. On that day
shortly after dusk, the
priest of the temple
dressed himself as a lady
carries a pot on his head
and starts a procession
accompanied by drum
beats. The pot that he
balances on his head is
called the 'karaga'. He
walks for 12 miles and
return to the temple in
the morning.
Kadalakeyi Parishe
The festival popularly
known as Ground nut
festival among
Bangaloreans is held in
Bull Temple. Kadalekayi
means ground nut. The
farmers of Bangalore sell
ground nuts near Bull
temple during this
festival. It is celebrated as
a welcome ceremony for
the ground nut crop
during the month of
November-December.
The farmers seek the
blessing of the God
during this time to help
them lead a prosperous
life.
Ulsoor Palaki
Ulsoor Palaki, which falls
Brahma, the creator of
Ganesh Chaturthi
life according to Hindu
Ganesh Chaturthi is a
mythology, started the
Hindu festival which is
work of creation on this
observed throughout
day. Lord Brahma is
India. It is popularly
worshipped on this day
known as Vinayak
and predictions are made
Chaturthi and marks the
for the New Year. People
birth of Lord Ganesha.
start the preparation of
Ganesh idols are made, decorated and installed in
the festival one week in
streets and homes and prayers are offered every
advance by giving their
day. The festival is celebrated for one, three, five,
home a thorough clean
seven or ten days after which Dussehra
the idols are taken to
and they do rigorous
a procession and immersed in
sea or river.
The
Dussehra
is unarguably
shopping. This day is
festival falls between the August
and September.
the most
widely
considered auspicious to
celebrated festival in
start new ventures. It
Karnataka. Dussehra or
normally falls during the
in the month of April, is a
Navratri is celebrated for
second half of March or
Floral Float festival which
ten days in the month of
first half of April.
is held at Ulsoor during
September or October . It
the Hindu month of
is also called
Varamahalakshmi
Chaitra. During this
'Nadahabba'. The festival
This festival is observed
festival 108 floats are
is celebrated with great
during the month of
beautifully decorated
pomp in Mysore and the
August. Goddess Lakshmi
using flowers and taken
involvement of Mysore
is worshipped on this
for a procession. The
Royal family makes it all
day. Women perform
procession starts around
the more special. During
pujas at home and offer
10pm in the night and is
the celebration the
garlands of cash,
carried out till early
Mysore Palace is
jewelleries and valuables
morning.
illuminated. The most
to Goddess Lakshmi.
important attraction of
People pray for their
Makara Sankranthi or
the festival is the
prosperity and happiness
Pongal
procession that carries
and hope that all their
It is known as the harvest
Goddess Chamundeswari.
monetary problems will
festival. This day is
The procession starts
be solved.
celebrated in South India
from the Mysore Palace
as Pongal, while
and heads towards the
Mahashivrathri
Karnataka celebrate it as
Chamundi hills. Hindus
Mahashivratri is one of
Makar Sankranthi.
all over Karnataka
the biggest festivals
Celebrated in the month
celebrates this festival
celebrated in India. The
of January it also marks
with great splendour.
festival dedicated to Lord
the beginning of spring
Shiva falls on the month
season. On this day cows
Ugadi
of Magha (according to
and bullocks are
Ugadi is celebrated as the
the lunar calendar). It is
decorated and are fed
Kannnadiga's New Year.
believed that on this day
'Pongal' a preparation
People believe that Lord
Lord Shiva drank the
made of rice. People offer
special pujas and prayers
in temples and houses.
Diwali
Makar Sankranthi is very
Diwali, the festival of lights
significant for Gavi
is celebrated all over India
Gangadhareshwara (Siva)
with great splendour. It
temple also. On this day
falls during the month of
the sun's rays pass
October-November. On
through the horns of
this day people worship
'Nandi' bull and lights the
Goddess Lakshmi and Lord
whole sanctum. This
Ganesha. The houses are adorned and decorated
phenomenon is an
with lights and oil lamps. People burst fire crackers
architectural wonder and
on this occasion which is one of the major
has never failed to
attractions of this festival.
astonish the viewers.
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