Tejasvi Surya Facilitates Karaga Committee Meeting with President Droupadi Murmu in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: In a significant cultural moment for the city, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya facilitated a meeting between representatives of the historic Bengaluru Karaga festival and President Droupadi Murmu during her visit to the city on Wednesday.
The President received a token of respect and remembrance at HAL Airport from Shri Challere Narayanswamy, President of Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple, representing the Tigala community. The community, classified as a backward community, has been the traditional custodian of the centuries-old Karaga festival.
The interaction was arranged after Tejasvi Surya conveyed the community’s request to the President’s Office, highlighting both the cultural significance of the Karaga festival and the coincidence of the President’s Bengaluru visit with the festival period.
The Bengaluru Karaga is an over 800-year-old living tradition and one of the city’s oldest festivals. Rooted in the worship of Draupadi as Adishakti, the festival is held annually during the Chaitra month at the Sri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple.
The celebrations culminate in a grand night procession led by a priest who embodies Draupadi, accompanied by Veerakumaras, drawing thousands of devotees from across the city and beyond. The festival stands as a symbol of Bengaluru’s deep-rooted cultural continuity and civilisational heritage.
Speaking after the meeting, Shri Challere Narayanswamy expressed gratitude, stating that it was a privilege to present a token of respect to the President and briefly explain the historical and cultural importance of the Karaga festival. He added that the President responded positively and indicated her willingness to visit the festival in the future.
Tejasvi Surya also thanked the President for promptly agreeing to the interaction, noting that her gesture reflects respect for Bengaluru’s heritage and traditions that trace back to the era of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda. He said the meeting highlights the importance of recognising and preserving indigenous cultural practices.
The interaction underscores growing national recognition of Bengaluru’s traditional festivals and the enduring role of communities like the Tigalas in safeguarding the city’s cultural legacy.
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