According to officials, the fight over carrying the temple idols to their villages escalated, with participants hurling firecrackers and beating each other with heavy sticks.
Published Oct 03, 2025 | 10:19 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 03, 2025 | 10:19 AM
People fighting during Bunny Utsavam.
Synopsis: Three people died and numerous others were injured following a fight over carrying temple idols during the Bunny Utsavam at Devaragattu Mala Malleswara Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh. Authorities have stepped up monitoring to prevent further untoward incidents.
The centuries-old Bunny Utsavam at Devaragattu Mala Malleswara Swamy temple in Holagunda mandal of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh turned violent on the night of Thursday, 2 October, leaving three people dead and more than 100 devotees injured.
The annual ritual, observed on Vijayadashami, involves villagers from both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka engaging in a symbolic stick fight to claim the festival idols in their respective villages.
This year, however, the ritual spiralled into chaos as devotees from nearly 11 villages, including Nerini, Kothapet, Arikera, Virupapuram, and Suluvai, clashed fiercely.
According to officials, the fight over carrying the temple idols to their villages escalated, with participants hurling firecrackers and beating each other with heavy sticks. Many devotees sustained head injuries, fractures, and burns. At least eight of the injured are reported to be in critical condition and are undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals.
One of the deceased has been identified as Kosigi Thimmappa of Arikera in the Kurnool district, while the identities of the two others are yet to be confirmed. Witnesses described the scene as “bloodied and chaotic,” with devotees lying injured on the ground even as others continued the ritualistic battle.
The Bunny Festival, popularly known as “Acharam,” has been a traditional spectacle for generations, attracting over one lakh devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Despite heavy police deployment, the massive turnout and intensity of the ritual overwhelmed security forces, leading to uncontrollable scuffles.
Authorities have stepped up monitoring to prevent further untoward incidents. Police and district officials said they are working with temple committees to ensure medical aid to the injured and to reassess safety arrangements for the controversial ritual.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Sumit Jha.)
