Events in Bangalore: Seasonal Festivals and Planning Tips

Bengaluru’s festival calendar includes spring celebrations and annual observances in November, with some dates determined by the Hindu calendar. That makes the festival’s usual season a useful starting point, but not a substitute for checking its current programme.

For spring, Bengaluru Karaga is observed during Chaitra, usually in March or April. Karnataka Rajyotsava falls on November 1 each year. Kadalekai Parishe, held in Basavanagudi, is traditionally associated with the last Monday of Karthika masa, so its Gregorian date changes each year.

If you are travelling into the centre for a celebration, allow for the journey from Bommasandra as part of your plan. A guide to getting around Bangalore from Bommasandra covers local transport planning.

Bengaluru Karaga is an annual festival centred on the procession that begins at Shri Dharmaraya Swamy Temple in Nagarathpete. The Karaga itself is a mud pot topped with a tall floral pyramid, balanced on its carrier’s head.

The festival’s rituals are associated with Draupadi and stories from the Mahabharata. The procession also visits the tomb of an 18th-century Muslim saint, part of an annual tradition that has continued unbroken.

Karaga takes place during Chaitra, usually in March or April, but its exact date changes according to the Hindu calendar. If you are planning around it, confirm the procession date and arrangements through Karnataka Tourism before travelling, then allow time to reach Nagarathpete.

Karnataka Rajyotsava is observed annually on November 1. The date is fixed, but the event details in Bengaluru can vary, so check for the local programme before making plans.

November also falls within the traditional period for Kadalekai Parishe, though the fair’s date follows Karthika masa rather than a fixed Gregorian date. That makes it worth checking the specific festival’s programme rather than assuming that a November visit will coincide with it.

On event days, plan your route and timing before setting out from Bommasandra. A one-day city route from Bommasandra can help you group central Bengaluru stops.

Kadalekai Parishe is a groundnut fair in Basavanagudi, around Dodda Basavana Gudi, also known as Bull Temple. Its stalls extend along Bull Temple Road from Ramakrishna Ashram Circle, past the temple, towards Bugle Rock and Gandhi Bazaar.

The fair is traditionally associated with the last Monday of Karthika masa, so its Gregorian date shifts each year. The fair is described as free to attend; you pay for food and other purchases. National College on Bengaluru’s Green Line is named as the nearest metro station, about 1.5 km from Bull Temple.

Bull Temple Road has been reported as closed to traffic during the fair, but street arrangements can vary. Check the official site before you go, and confirm transport and access details with the relevant event or transport operator.

For any of these festivals, treat recurring dates as a guide rather than a guarantee: annual observances may have changing programmes, and calendar-based fairs do not land on the same Gregorian date each year.