In Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district, one person died and 70 were severely injured, during the stick fight on the occasion of Dussehra, celebrated on the 5th of October, Wednesday.
The traditional Banni festival, also popularly known as stick fight was held with thousands of people fighting for the idol of Malamalleswara Swamy. In the traditional event, devotees who participate attack each other with sticks at the temple premises at midnight. Ahead of the festival, the devotees had the darshan of Malamalleswara Swamy.
The Jaitrayatra (Banni) festival is celebrated to mark the victory of the gods over the Asuras. Devotees from villages near Devaragattu believe that this custom dates back to Treta Yuga. Devotees of Neriniki, Neriniki Tanda and Kothapeta villages have arranged to celebrate Banni Utsav on the occasion of Dussehra.
The Banni festival event killed one person and left 70 people injured, who were taken to a nearby medical camp, set up by the concerned authority. Furthermore, of the 70 injured, two people are said to be serious.
Notably, Ravindra Reddy (17) of Mada Suguru village in Karnataka, who had come with his family members to watch the festival, died of a heart attack.
Approximately 1 lakh people from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and other southern states attended the traditional Banni festival in Kurnool district.
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