Bloodshed marks unique Dasara fest

Bellary, Karnataka, Oct 4: If religious fervour, pomp and gaiety overshadow Dasara celebrations elsewhere in the country, it is violence and bloodshed at Guddada Mallaiah temple, about 40 km from here.

The unique celebrations claimed the life of one person and injured six people, this year.

Thousands of devotees from Karnataka and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh participate in the fest with all zeal. Since centuries, people of the region have been celebrating the event as a tradition, with people from two villages fighting with iron ring fitted bamboos for authority over the deity of Maala Malleswara, popularly known as Guddada Mallaiah.

Legend had it that during eleventh century, people of the region were terrorised by a demon who killed people mercilessly to satiate his appetite. Heeding the prayers of the people, Guddada Mallaiah advised the demon to stop killing people in return for the people shedding blood to him on the eve of Dasara. Since then, the tradition was continuing.

The celebrations begin on the hill top from midnight on Dasara day, with people offering few drops of blood to the demon and prayers to Guddada Mallaiah and Mallamma idols, which would be brought to the hill top by Neraniki and Neraniki Tanda people in a palanquin. The rival group from Honnalli and Ellarthi villages would obstruct the procession, thus beginning the fight to win authority over the procession. The fight would continue till dawn. The winning group would get the right to take the palanquin to their village till next year's procession.

Unmindful of the blood bath, the villagers deem it a 'Dharma Yuddha' and death due to heavy bleeding was considered 'Veera Marana'. Survivors without any injury would be treated as heroes of the year.

Despite the loss of lives, there was no police case or any action against the participating people. Only a makeshift hospital was provided by the Government to treat the injured people.

UNI