Kurnool: In a tragic turn, three persons died and many devotees received injuries during the traditional Banni festival linked to a temple at Devaragattu in Holagunda mandal late on Tuesday.
This happened in the course of the Stick Fight, an important event. Most of the injuries were to the heads of participants due to the forceful blows they received. A tree fall proved fatal.
Police said some locals had climbed a tree to witness the stick fight. Ganesh, 19, from Aspari died as a Neem tree fell on him. Another victim, Ramanjaneyulu, 59, from Molagavalli Kottala village, died of his injuries while undergoing treatment at the Aluru government hospital. Prakash, 30, from Bellary in Karnataka, also died abruptly while watching the festival.
The police said while the two deaths were related to the tree fall, Prakash's death was caused by a severe seizure.
The Banni festival involves participants displaying determination, often fighting even after sustaining injuries, sometimes until they are soaked in blood. Local people believe that this tradition serves as a commemoration of the demon's defeat at the hands of Lord Siva's reincarnation.
The Sri Mala Malleswara Swamy Temple at Devaragattu hills in Holagunda mandal had made the arrangements for the traditional Banni Fight around midnight on Tuesday. The event continued into the early hours of Wednesday.
The excitement about the event was high. Devotees used sticks studded with iron caps at their ends for more powerful hits. The fight continued for about half an hour.
Officials claimed that they had organised awareness campaigns to prevent violence during the stick fight, but the traditional fervor among the devotees remained at a high.
Devotees from neighboring villages of Neraniki, Neranikithanda, Kothapeta, Suluvai, Aluru, Bilehallu, Virupapuram etc gathered at Devaragattu with sticks around midnight. They divided into the Siva team, while participants from Yellarthy, Arikeri, Maddigeri, and Nitranatta villages formed the demon's side.
The objective of this event was to snatch the idols from the God's team, leading to a fierce battle known as the Banni Fight. This resulted in bloodshed. The injured were shifted to the Aluru and Adoni government hospitals for treatment.
Devotees said they had taken permission for the event from temple committee president Gummanuru Srinivasulu, Collector Srijana, Kurnool SP Krishnakanth, Adoni sub-collector Abhishek, Pathikonda RDO Mohandas and Pathikonda DSP Srinivas Reddy.
The stick fight took place following these rituals in a traditional style. Before this, the devotees conducted a Kalyanotsavam between Mallamma and Mala Malleswara Swamy on the hill around midnight on Tuesday. Thereafter, they held a procession with the Utsava Murthulu.
