Bangalore Karaga

A centuries-old festival where a carrier balances an intricate floral pyramid representing Draupadi across streets.

According to the Mahabharata legend, Draupadi created an army of warriors from her own body - the Veerakumaras - to battle the demon Timirasura. The festival honours their memory and celebrates feminine power (Shakti).

On the main night, a male priest dressed in women's attire balances a towering floral pyramid - the Karaga - on his head and moves swiftly through the city without touching it, escorted by sword-bearing Veerakumaras chanting 'Veera Di'.

The Karaga carrier lives away from home for months beforehand, observing austerities. The night procession halts at the Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan Dargah, where fakirs bless the Karaga - a moving symbol of interfaith harmony.

It is believed that Goddess Draupadi herself bears the weight of the Karaga on the carrier's head, and that no harm can befall the city while the Karaga is on its rounds. The Karaga must never be allowed to fall.

The festival is over 800 years old and is closely tied to the Thigala community of gardeners and farmers. Even as Bengaluru has grown, the tradition continues unbroken through the lanes of the old Pete quarter.

This starts at midnight and runs to dawn. A priest of the Thigala community, dressed as Draupadi, carries a tall pot stacked with jasmine on his head through the old Pete lanes, followed by Veerakumaras with drawn swords. The route is a working neighbourhood rather than a parade ground, so you watch from the street, and it is packed.