In the heart of Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district, a thrilling yet dangerous tradition turned tragic during Dussehra celebrations. Two people lost their lives, and more than 100 others suffered injuries in a fierce stick fight at the Devaragattu Banni Utsav in Deveragattu village.
The clash happened late Thursday night, just like it does every year. Two rival groups from nearby villages charged at each other with sticks during the event at the Mala Malleswara Swamy temple on a hilltop. This annual ritual follows a ceremonial wedding of the deities Mallamma and Malleswara Swamy at midnight, where fighters compete to grab the idols.
Eighteen participants ended up with serious wounds, and five of them remain in critical condition at hospitals in Adoni and Alur. One man died right there at the scene from his injuries, while another passed away from a cardiac arrest. For those with lighter injuries, local authorities set up a temporary clinic for quick treatment.
Despite police efforts to stop the stick fight—deploying forces and issuing warnings—the villagers went ahead with their age-old custom. They see it as a sacred reenactment of Lord Shiva, in the form of Bhairava, battling demons Mani and Mallasura with sticks on Vijayadashami day. One side represents the demons, trying to snatch the idols from the god’s team in a no-holds-barred showdown.
Villages like Nerani, Nerani Tanda, and Kothapeta squared off against groups from Arikera, Aluru, Suluvai, Ellarthi, Nidravatti, and Bilehall. Sticks flew everywhere, and while many got badly hurt, the devotees view these scars as a lucky sign from the gods.
Thousands flocked to Deveragattu village from Kurnool and nearby areas in Andhra Pradesh, plus Telangana and Karnataka, to witness the high-energy Dussehra stick fight. It’s a spectacle that’s drawn crowds for years, even as officials keep trying—and failing—to convince locals to drop the risky tradition.
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