Festivals

The Karaga Festival is one of the oldest and most unique traditional festivals of Karnataka, celebrated mainly in Bengaluru with deep devotion and cultural pride. It is dedicated to Goddess Draupadi and is observed during the Chaitra month (March–April). The highlight of the festival is the Karaga procession, where a priest carries a sacred floral pyramid called the Karaga on his head, symbolizing the goddess’s power and protection. Accompanied by traditional music, drums, and chants, the procession moves through the streets late at night, drawing thousands of devotees. The festival reflects the rich folk traditions of Karnataka and promotes unity, faith, and devotion among the community.

Deepawali, also known as Diwali, is one of the most important festivals celebrated across Karnataka with great joy and devotion. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. The festival is usually observed over several days, beginning with Naraka Chaturdashi, followed by Lakshmi Puja and concluding with Balipadyami. Homes are cleaned and decorated with colorful rangoli and rows of oil lamps, creating a bright and festive atmosphere. People wear new clothes, exchange sweets, burst crackers, and offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and prosperity. Deepawali in Karnataka brings families and communities together, spreading happiness, hope, and positivity.

Ganesh Chaturthi is a widely celebrated festival in Karnataka, marking the birth of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom and prosperity. The festival usually falls in August or September and is observed with great devotion and enthusiasm. People install beautifully decorated idols of Lord Ganesha in homes and public pandals, perform daily prayers, and offer special sweets like modak and kadubu, which are believed to be Ganesha’s favorites. Cultural programs, devotional songs, and community gatherings are an important part of the celebrations. The festival concludes with Ganesh Visarjana, where the idols are immersed in rivers, lakes, or the sea, symbolizing the return of Lord Ganesha to his abode and spreading the message of faith, unity, and devotion across Karnataka…..

Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival in Karnataka, celebrated with great joy and traditional fervor in January. It marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign Capricorn (Makara), symbolizing prosperity and new beginnings. The festival is especially significant for farmers, who thank nature for a good harvest. Homes are decorated with colorful rangoli, and people wear new clothes. A special highlight of the celebration is Ellu-Bella, a mixture of sesame seeds, jaggery, peanuts, coconut pieces, and sugar candy, which is shared among family, friends, and neighbors as a symbol of harmony and goodwill. In many regions, cattle are beautifully decorated and worshipped, and kite flying, cultural activities, and festive foods add to the cheerful spirit of Makar Sankranti in Karnataka.

Ugadi is an important traditional festival in Karnataka that marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Hindu lunar calendar. It is usually celebrated in March or April with great devotion and joy. On this day, people clean their homes, decorate entrances with fresh mango leaves and colorful rangoli, and wear new clothes. Special prayers are offered for health, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year. A unique part of Ugadi celebrations is the preparation of Ugadi Pachadi (Bevu-Bella), made with neem flowers, jaggery, raw mango, tamarind, and pepper, symbolizing the different emotions of life such as happiness, sorrow, anger, and surprise. Panchanga Shravanam, the reading of the new year’s almanac, is also an important ritual, making Ugadi a meaningful and culturally rich festival in Karnataka.

Dussehra in Karnataka, popularly known as Mysuru Dasara, is a grand and vibrant festival celebrated with great pride and tradition. It marks the victory of good over evil and is especially famous in Mysuru, where the celebrations last for ten days. The festival begins with the worship of Goddess Chamundeshwari, the family deity of the Mysuru royal family. Cultural programs, classical music and dance performances, exhibitions, and fairs are organized across the city. The highlight of the celebrations is the magnificent Jumboo Savari, a grand procession held on Vijayadashami, where the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari is carried on a beautifully decorated elephant through the streets. The illuminated Mysuru Palace during Dussehra is a spectacular sight, attracting visitors from all over India and the world, making Karnataka’s Dussehra one of the most iconic festivals in the country.