Bengaluru, April 1 The preparations are complete for the 'Bengaluru Karaga,' one of the city's oldest and most iconic festivals, with a grand procession scheduled for Wednesday night.
As part of the rituals, several camphor lamps were lit by devotees near the historic Sri Dharmaraya Swamy temple in Thigalarpet.
The festivities, which began at the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple on March 24, will culminate in the grand Karaga Shaktyotsava procession on Wednesday night.
During the procession, a priest dressed in female attire will traverse through the city's streets, visiting local temples, while skillfully balancing a flower-adorned pyramid (Karaga) on his head, representing Goddess Draupadi.
The festival, celebrated by the Tigala community to honor Goddess Draupadi, attracts a large number of people.
The Bengaluru Central City Corporation has taken several measures for the Karaga festival, including the installation of decorative lighting at the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple and surrounding roads and intersections, filling potholes along the procession route, conducting cleanliness drives, and beautification work, among others.
The Bengaluru traffic police have enforced traffic restrictions in and around the temple area due to the festival and procession.