Which festivals are celebrated in Karnataka?

Karnataka, a culturally rich and historically significant state in South India has a broad span of festival celebrations that express the various customs, languages and religious backgrounds. The state  celebrates both pan-Indian festivals and regional ones as well as local festivals each with its own customs that reflect Kannada traditions, temple rituals, classical music, and dance

Below are some of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in Karnataka:

1. Ugadi – Kannada New Year

• When: March or April (Chaitra month in the Hindu calendar)
• Significance: Ugadi marks the beginning of the Hindu lunar calendar and is celebrated as the New Year by Kannadigas.
• Traditions:
   
  • Cleaning and sweeping houses with rangoli and mango leaves
  • People will prepare a special meal called Bevu-Bella and cook a combination of neem (bitter) and jaggery (sweet) which symbolizes life and all its twists and turns
  • Attending worship in temples and reading of Panchanga (astrological projections of the year)

2. Mysuru Dasara – The Royal Festival

• When: September–October (last 10 days of Navaratri, ending with Vijayadashami)
• Where: Especially grand in Mysuru (Mysore)
• Highlights:
  • A magnificent parade of caparisoned elephants and a golden image of Goddess Chamundeshwari
  • Illuminated Mysore Palace and cultural shows
  • Traditional wrestling matches, music and dance performances, and a large fair
• Significance: Celebrates the victory of good over evil (Durga over Mahishasura). It is one of India’s most iconic state-sponsored festivals.

3. Karaga – A Unique Temple Festival

• Where: Bangalore, especially in the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple
• When: March or April
• Significance: Celebrates Draupadi as an incarnation of the Mother Goddess.
• Highlights:
  • A male priest (dressed as a woman) holds the sacred Karaga pot on his head in a procession throughout the night
  • Organized by the Tamil-speaking Tigala community
  • It blends folk traditions and mythological worship in a unique manner

4. Mahashivaratri

• When: February or March
• Significance: A major religious night dedicated to Lord Shiva, especially revered in Karnataka.
• Where: Observed with great devotion at temples such as Murudeshwar, Gokarna, and Nanjanagud
• Activities:
  • Night-long vigils, temple visits, special pujas, and devotional songs
  • Fasting and community gatherings

5. Makar Sankranti (Pongal)

• When: January 14
• Significance: Harvest festival celebrating the sun’s transition into Capricorn (Makara).
• Traditions:
  • Making and sharing Ellu-Bella (sesame and jaggery mixture)
  • Flying kites and visiting friends
  • Worshipping cattle during Kanu or Mattu Pongal in farming regions

6. Other Major Festivals Celebrated in Karnataka

Karnataka, like the rest of India, also celebrates:

• Deepavali (Diwali) -  The festival of lights, fireworks and oil lamps
• Holi – The colorful spring festival
• Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha - it is celebrated by the Muslims especially in cities like Bangalore and Mangalore
• Christmas Christmas is celebrated in Christian-dominated Mangalore in all midnight masses and carols
• Ram Navami and Krishna Janmashtami are also commemorated with bhajans and fasting in ISKCON and other temples

Conclusion

Festivals in Karnataka are a happy mix of regional pride, religion, and art. These festivals show everything about Karnataka as Mysuru Dasara is a beautiful festival to be enjoyed with family and friends, Karaga is a deeply sacred ritual rooted in tradition and Ugadi is a festival where Kannadigas take great pride in celebrating their family life. As a traveller, a cultural zealot or a local inhabitant, Karnataka has something in store, offering something to delight the senses, no matter the season