The devotees are divided into two groups. While a few establish a security ring around the idols, others attempt to 'hijack' or capture them.
Banni festival. (Screengrab)
Two people died and around 40 people were injured at the annual Banni festival — which happens on the night of Dasara — in Devaragattu village in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday, 25 October.
The festival was held on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. The festival is usually observed at midnight each year.
Speaking with South First, the Deputy Superintendent of Kurnool, B Sreenivas Reddy, said that the festival rituals include fighting with sticks and also carrying flaming torches.
Reddy further added, “One of the flaming torches was thrown and a group of people, in an attempt to escape the fire, climbed up a tree. The branch broke due to the excess weight and the two people who were under the tree died.”
Several others had also climbed up tree branches to get a better view of the festivities, Kurnool Superintendent of Police G Krishnakanth told PTI.
When asked about the injured, Reddy said, “The injuries were due to the stick fight, which is part of the festivities, and also the people who fell off the tree.”
Among these, 10-15 people sustained serious injuries and were admitted to the government hospital in Adoni. The official confirmed that they were now out of danger and have also been discharged.
Meanwhile, another person died due to natural causes, the police official said to PTI, adding that he was from Karnataka.
Reddy said that they took necessary measures — having an adequate police force and paramedics — to have control over the situation.
With the temple located at the border of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, devotees from both sides arrive on the day of the festival. They perform prayers and conduct the “Kalyanam” of the deities — Malleshwara (Shiva) and Mallamma (Parvathi). The devotees are divided into two groups.
Few devotees establish a security ring around the idols, while others attempt to “hijack” or capture the idols. To safeguard the deity, worshipers carry torches and clubs.
Devotees go down the hill in a procession with their shirts covered in blood. This “winning parade” represents Mala-Malleshwara’s defeat of a demon. The ritual of the procession continues till daybreak.
During the Banni festival last year, more than 70 people were injured and a teen from Karnataka died. The year before, in 2021, over 45 people were injured.
(With PTI inputs)
May 18, 2024
May 18, 2024
May 18, 2024
May 17, 2024
May 16, 2024
May 15, 2024
