Devaragattu Banni Festival: Clashes Kill 2, Over 100 Injured In AP

A revered religious festival in Devaragattu in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district descended into deadly violence on Thursday night, resulting in the deaths of two devotees and injuring over a hundred others.

The annual Banni festival, a ritualistic stick fight, erupted into a lethal clash between rival groups vying for control of sacred idols.

The chaos began at midnight as a procession carrying the deities of Mala Malleswara Swamy and Goddess Parvati was underway. Wielding long staffs, thousands of participants from competing villages charged one another in a frenzied battle to claim possession of the idols, a tradition believed to bring prosperity to their region.

Emergency services rushed the numerous injured to Adoni Hospital. The event, which reenacts a divine victory over demons, has become infamous for its real-world violence. Despite heavy police deployment and repeated attempts by authorities to enforce safety measures, the Banni Utsavam continues to be one of India's most dangerous religious celebrations, year after year.

What is Banni Festival?

The Banni Festival is a controversial annual festival held during the Dussehra period in Devaragattu, Andhra Pradesh. Hosted at the Mala Malleswara Swamy Temple, the event is defined by a ritualistic stick-fight, where villagers from rival groups engage in a violent clash.

Mythological Roots

The festival's origin is tied to a local legend about two demonic brothers, Mani and Mallasura, who terrorized the region. In response to prayers from devotees, Lord Shiva and his consort assumed warrior forms and vanquished the demons on the night of Vijayadashami. As a dying wish, the demons asked that their defeat be commemorated annually. This divine victory is now celebrated as the 'Jaitra Yatra' (victory procession), with villagers re-enacting the epic battle.

The Ritual and Its Dangers

The modern ritual involves a fierce competition between villages to gain control of the idols of Mala Malleswara Swamy and Goddess Parvati during the procession. It is believed that possessing the idols brings prosperity, which fuels the intensity of the conflict. Thousands of participants, armed with long staffs known as lathis or karralu, clash in a chaotic and often bloody spectacle. Despite repeated interventions by police and local authorities to mitigate the violence, the Banni Utsavam frequently results in severe injuries and has seen multiple fatalities over the years, making it one of the region's most dangerous traditions.