The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A woman is at the helm

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Thursday, Apr 09, 2009
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Karnataka - Bangalore

A woman is at the helm

Krishnaprasad

‘It is a challenge making arrangements when lakhs of people gather’

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

TRADITION CONTINUES: Lokesh, who will carry Karaga, going through the rituals on Wednesday.

Bangalore: This year’s famous Bangalore Karaga is unique as for the first time, the festival is being held under the leadership of a woman.

Sri Dharmarayaswamy Temple, where Draupadi Devi Karaga (popularly known as Bangalore Karaga) is being held, is now headed by 54-year-old Indira S.N. She became the President of Management Committee of the temple six months ago. “It is a new experience for me to lead this famous religious ritual,” says Ms. Indira. Participation in Karaga festivals earlier along with her father, who led the Karaga in 1970’s, and later with her husband, had given her enough courage to involve herself in the activities of the temple.

“It is a challenge to make arrangements for the festival when lakhs of devotees gather and all the men in the committee are cooperating to ensure smooth organisation of the annual event,” Indira says. The 10-day annual festival already made a start on April 1 with the hoisting of Karaga flag. The main events – Karaga procession and the Karaga Shakthyothsava – will be held on April 10. The procession of Karaga will start at 1 a.m. on April 10 from the temple. Halting of the procession in front of the Dargah-E-Shariff of Hazrat Tawakkall Mastan Saheb in Balepete for some time and participation of Muslims in some rituals reflects the harmonious characteristic of the festival as this tradition is said to be followed since hundreds of years ago.

Although the tradition is that Karaga procession should reach the temple before the sunrise, the expansion of city and its population has, from past many years, made the Karaga to reach the temple only at around 8 a.m., says T.M. Manohar, a member of the managing committee.

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