One dies in Banni fest melee
Despite about 1,200 police personnel being posted to keep the peace, a woman died in a stampede and at least 60 persons were injured at the traditional Banni festival at Devaragattu hill on the outskirts of Neradiki village in the district.
Six people were admitted to Adoni Government Hospital, while the rest were given primary treatment at Alur Hospital.
District collector S. Satyanarayana, and superintendent of police Jagadish Jetti had made elaborate arrangements to prevent violence at the celebrations.
The SP told newsmen that video footage and photographs captured by drones deployed at the site would be analysed and cases would be booked against individuals responsible for the violence.
This year, the celebrations began at midnight on Saturday and continued into the early hours of Sunday. About three lakh people from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka gathered to witness the clash of 3500 stick-wielders.
Every year, residents of Devaragattu, Neradiki, Neranikitanada, and Kothapeta assembled to protect their idols from being snatched away by ‘demons’ — represented by the villagers of Ellarti, Arikera, Maddigeri, Nitranatta, Sulavai and Hebbeta.
People take to the streets with sticks, one side to guard the idols of the Mala Malleswara temple of Devaragattu village and the other to try and take them away.
Bloodied faces, scars, and bruises are an annual affair in these villages at the end of the event.
According to local folklore, Lord Siva took the form of Bhairava to fight rakshasas Mani and Mallasura. He used sticks to kill them, to ensure that humans were untroubled.
Locals consider bloodshed during the fight to be a good omen. Despite sustaining severe injuries, villagers do not file any complaints.