Chasing the Flowers, Protecting the Roots: An Evening with the Thigala Community & The Bengaluru Karaga

Published: June 28, 2026

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Bengaluru, the air wasn’t just filled with the scent of drizzle and earth—it was charged with centuries of living history.

In a unique collaboration between Heritage Beku, the NGMA, and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, citizens gathered for a rare, ringside view into the soul of the city: The Thigala Community and the Bengaluru Karaga Festival. For those who think Bengaluru is defined solely by its tech parks and glass towers, this evening was a powerful reminder that our city's modern heartbeat rests on an ancient, resilient foundation.

Setting the Stage: From Martial Arts to Living Legacies

Heritage Beku co founder, Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, set the context for the evening. She emphasized that Heritage Beku exists to give voice to the irreplaceable cultural landmarks of Bengaluru, focusing on the Karaga aspect , setting the stage for an eclectic panel discussion skilfully moderated by Geetha Kannan.

Eleven Days in Summer: Inside Sunitha Srinivasan’s Deep Dive

The primary push for the event and ianchor of the evening’s narrative was the primary speaker, Sunitha Srinivasan, whose journey into the Karaga festival is as fascinating as the history she documents. Sunitha didn't just study the festival from afar; she initially experienced it as a runner, trying to keep pace with the Karaga priest. She recalled her absolute awe at watching the priest, draped in a sari, running at a lightning, god-like velocity while flawlessly balancing the towering pyramid of flowers upon his head.

This intense personal experience drew her into a three-year deep dive into the community’s history. Through her brilliant slideshow and narrative, Sunitha unveiled extraordinary snippets that captivated the audience:

The Dawn of Light: The very first electric streetlights ever switched on in Bengaluru were located on the exact same road as the historic Dharmaraya Swamy Temple.

The 30-Meter Bamboo Feat: Attendees learned about the legendary 30-meter-tall bamboo flag post. Before it is harvested from the Bannerghatta Forest, the community seeks reverent permission from nature. Generations of Thigalas have then manually carried and maneuvered this massive pole on their shoulders for miles through Bengaluru’s notorious traffic.

A Foundation of Respect: Sunitha highlighted the matriarchal reverence embedded in the festival, noting that the essential Aarti and Pongal Sevai rituals are organized and run entirely by women.

The Sweetness of Syncretism: In one of the most moving parts of the Karaga, the procession visits the Mastan Saab Dargah. Sunitha shared a witty, profound quote from the Muslim head priest there, who noted that whether you are eating a jalebi or a jamun, the core ingredients are identical—and that ingredient is God. This universal spiritual pull is why Veerakumars (the brave protectors of the deity) travel from all over India, bound by their love for the power of Goddess Draupadi.

Perspectives from the Panel: Capturing the Soul of the City

The discussion deepened as lifelong Bangaloreans and policymakers shared how the Karaga has shaped their own lives.

M.D. Ramasami brought a wonderfully candid, cosmopolitan "Richmond Town" perspective to the stage. He admitted that he initially went "kicking and screaming" to a mini-Karaga festival at a Shiva temple in Ulsoor, only to find himself completely entranced and humbled by its raw spiritual energy.

Prof. Rajeev Gowda shared two deeply relatable personal reflections. He recalled standing in the crowds as a teenager, anxiously wondering if the fierce, sword-wielding Veerakumars would actually carry out the terrifying ancient tradition of beheading the head priest if he stumbled or dropped the sacred crown.

Prof. Gowda admitted he truly woke up to the vastness of the festival later in life upon returning to India from the United States. He began to see the undeniable, historic agricultural and farmer connection of the Thigalas and noticed the relentless, beautiful rhythm of the neighborhood festivals in Basavanagudi. He noted that in Bengaluru, there is always a festival happening somewhere—and these neighborhood celebrations act as the essential cultural bridges we must actively retain. He also poignantly noted that this preservation must extend across the city’s diverse tapestry, including protecting Bengaluru's distinct Anglo-Indian culture.

The space then moved into a martial arts performance with Dev and his protégés and then Rekha channeling her inner Devi , bringing in both the athleticism, total control as well as the warrior element of the Karaga build up. The event moved up with a burst of breathtaking adrenaline. Dev and his team took to the stage to present a rare demonstration of traditional Thigala martial arts, reminding everyone in attendance that this community’s heritage is not a static museum exhibit, but a vibrant, muscular, and beautifully preserved art form.

The Heritage Beku Call to Action: A Tech-Driven Blueprint

The evening wrapped up not just with appreciation, but with a firm, actionable vision for the future. While capturing this rich history in books is vital, the panel agreed that Bengaluru needs to think bigger.

The Big Idea: If the Bengali community can seamlessly export the grandeur of Durga Puja and its beautiful pandals to every corner of the globe during Dasara, why can’t Bengaluru scale and export the magnificent Karaga festival to the national and global stage?

To achieve this, Heritage Beku laid out a clear challenge to the policymakers present:

1. A Tech-Driven City Cultural Calendar: We desperately need a comprehensive, centralized digital calendar to document, track, and promote the smaller, neighborhood "village-within-the-city" festivals (from Ulsoor to Basavanagudi).

2. Public Visibility: These snippets of cultural heritage need to be seamlessly integrated into daily mainstream press calendars and "In the City Today" listings, ensuring everyday citizens and newcomers are exposed to them.

3. Institutional Protection: We must use policy to safeguard the historic procession routes, protect the spaces belonging to the community custodians, and ensure that living heritage is prioritized alongside urban development.

A Heartfelt Thank You

We extend our deepest gratitude to Sunitha Srinivasan, Prof. Rajeev Gowda, M.D. Ramasami, and Geetha Kannan for a masterclass in local history. Thank you to Dev and his team for keeping the martial arts alive, and to the NGMA and the Ministry of Culture for hosting us.

Most of all, thank you to the citizens of Bengaluru who were in the auditorium on a Sunday afternoon. Your presence sent a resounding message to the entire city: Heritage Beku! We want our heritage, we love our history, and together, we will protect it.

Keep the spirit of the Karaga alive in your hearts, and we will see you at our next event!

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