Thigala
{{short description|Social group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
|group = Thigala
|poptime =
|popplace =
|region1 = Southern Karnataka, India
|religions = Hinduism
|related = Vanniyar{{·}}Vahnikula
}}
Thigala is a social group found in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, India, particularly the city of Bengaluru and in Southern Karnataka. Vahnikula Kshatriyas people where mainly involved in Horticulture and Gardening,{{cite book|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/lal-bagh-inside-a-citys-green-heart/amp_articleshow/63070227.cms|title=Inside a city's green heart|date=2018|publisher=Bangalore Mirror}} Hyder Ali deployed Thigala people for the development of Lalbagh gardening then they played a major role in making Bangalore as Flower City.{{cite book|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/story/india%2Fkarnataka%2Flalbaghs-history-through-the-ages-955724.html|title=Lalbagh's history through the ages|date=2021|publisher=Deccan Herald}}
Their main deities are Draupadi and Dharmaraya Swamy. There is a Dharmaraya temple in Thigalarapete which was built in the 11th century AD. Kempegowda, the founder of Bangalore, built four gopuras with this temple as the centre of the city.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bo8BAAAAMAAJ|title=Karnataka State Gazetteer: Bangalore District|date=1990|publisher=Director of Print., Stationery and Publications at the Government Press|page=173}} The Karaga festival is celebrated in Narasapura, Kolar, Bangalore, Hosakote, Anekal, Malur, Jakkasandra, Immadahalli, Mayasandra, Huskur, Ramagondanahalli, Bethamangala, Varthur, Doopanahalli, Chunchagatta, Vokkaleri, Vijayapura, Lakkur, Thornahalli, Bellandur and in other towns where Thigalas are highly located.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tHFuAAAAMAAJ|title=A Handbook of Karnataka|last=Kamath|first=Suryanath U.|date=1996|publisher=Government of Karnataka, Karnataka Gazetteer Department}}