Eleven Days in Summer: Unveiling the Soul of Bengaluru’s Karaga Tradition

In Eleven Days in Summer, Sunitha Srinivasan turns her keen eye for history and culture toward one of Bengaluru’s most enduring yet little-understood traditions—the Karaga festival. The result is a meticulously researched and engaging account of a community, a faith, and a living heritage that continues to thrive amidst the rapid transformation of India’s technology capital.

At the heart of the narrative lies the ancient Dharmaraya Swamy Temple near KR Market, one of the few temples in India dedicated to Yudhishthira and the Pandavas. From this sacred centre emerges the Karaga Mahotsava, an eleven-day celebration observed by the Thigala community, who revere Draupadi as Adi Shakti, the Divine Mother. Through vivid descriptions and careful documentation, Srinivasan brings to life the rituals, vows, processions, and traditions that define this remarkable festival.

What sets the book apart is the depth of its research. Drawing on nearly three years of study, the author skilfully weaves together historical sources, oral traditions, mythology, and contemporary observation. The result is not merely a chronological account of a religious event but a nuanced portrait of a community that has preserved its identity and traditions across centuries.

The book traces the festival’s origins to ancient Dravidian traditions of Divine Mother worship while exploring the unique role of Draupadi as both epic heroine and goddess. Srinivasan captures the spiritual intensity of the celebrations, particularly the awe-inspiring moment when the Karaga priest carries the sacred floral pot symbolising the Goddess through the streets of old Bengaluru.

Beyond its religious significance, Eleven Days in Summer serves as an important work of cultural preservation. It highlights the values of inclusivity, continuity, and collective memory that underpin the festival and offers readers a glimpse into a Bengaluru that exists beyond its modern image of glass towers and technology parks.

As one of the first English-language books to comprehensively document the history and traditions of the Thigala community and their Divine Mother, the work fills a significant gap in the literature on South Indian cultural heritage. Srinivasan writes with clarity and respect, balancing scholarly rigour with accessible storytelling.

This is the author’s third book, following Trailblazers of the Travancore Plantations and Echoes of History: Travancore’s Legacy, both of which explored the layered histories of the erstwhile princely states of Cochin and Travancore. With Eleven Days in Summer, she once again demonstrates her ability to illuminate overlooked histories and bring them to a wider audience.

Informative, evocative, and deeply respectful of its subject, Eleven Days in Summer is an important contribution to the documentation of India’s living traditions. It will appeal not only to those interested in Bengaluru’s history but also to readers fascinated by culture, faith, and the enduring power of community.

Author: Sunitha Srinivasan

Publisher: Zero Degree Publishing

Available on: Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/s?k=Eleven+Days+in+Summer&crid=1X0VEEZ53PZR8&sprefix=eleven+days+in+summer%2Caps%2C269&ref=nb_sb_noss_1