Around 50 people were injured, at least four of them seriously, at an annual stick fight ritual in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district on Tuesday, as part of the local 'Banni' festival.
The festival takes place at Devaragattu village on the eve of Dussehra, where thousands descend each year, carrying flaming torches and long sticks. People from nearby villages in Andhra Pradesh and Bellary district in Karnataka also participate in the event.
District Superintendent of Police Dr Fakkeerappa Kaginelli told reporters that around 1 lakh people attended the event, most of whom were young men. He also said that those who had been injured were availing treatment at a hospital in Adoni.
The festival, held in honour of the Mala Malleswara Swamy temple in the village, involves a stick-fight where participants try and take possession of two deities, believing that it would bring prosperity to their village if they managed to bring any of the idols to their side. The temple is owned and managed by the residents of Neraniki village who protect these deities.
According to folklore, the locals tell a story of two demons, Mani and Mallasura, who lived in the hillocks nearby, and had caused a lot of trouble to some saints. The saints in turn, prayed to Lord Parameswara and Parvati to rescue them, following which Parameswara is said to have appeared on a stone atop the hillock and eliminated the demons on the night of Dussehra.
However, the ritual has not been without controversy as several people get injured each year. Deaths have also been reported in the past due to severe injuries from the festivities, despite counselling from authorities and advisories against conducting the ritual.
This year too, the police had beefed up security and installed CCTV cameras across the village and deployed up to 1,000 personnel to ensure that the festivities took place without any untoward incident. Drones have also been used in the past to monitor the event.