Andhra Pradesh: Two individuals died and round 40 folks suffered accidents at Devaragattu village in Kurnool district through the Banni festival, a police official mentioned at present (October 25).
The two died after they fell from the department of a tree whereas attempting to flee a flaming torch that was thrown of their path, the official mentioned concerning the festival held within the intervening night time of Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Two persons died after somebody unintentionally threw a flaming torch towards the tree and they fell trying to escape it,” Kurnool Superintendent of Police (SP) G Krishnakanth instructed media.
Several folks had climbed on to tree branches to get a greater view of the festivities, he mentioned.
Also, through the stick combat that’s a part of the festivities, over 40 folks had been injured, the police official added. Meanwhile, one other individual died as a consequence of pure causes, the police official mentioned, including that he was from Karnataka.
The festival is often noticed at midnight annually.
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The stick-fight is organised yearly as a part of the Dussehra/Dasara celebrations at Mala Malleswara Swamy Temple positioned on a hillock. Like up to now, the villagers defied the police orders to organise the combat, which they declare to be a part of their custom.
As a part of the annual celebrations, folks from totally different villages divide into two teams to combat with sticks to safe the idols of the deities Mallamma and Malleswara Swamy after their ceremonial marriage ceremony at midnight. This yr’s occasion noticed extra enthusiasm among the many contributors. The preventive measures taken by the police to cease the combat had no affect.
Every yr, folks of villages across the temple divide into two teams and combat with sticks to take management of the idols.
Villagers from Nerani, Nerani Tanda and Kothapeta villages combat with devotees of Arikera, Aluru, Suluvai, Ellarthi, Nidravatti and Bilehall villages. They mercilessly assault one another with sticks and within the combat many obtain grievous accidents. However, devotees think about these accidents as a very good omen.
Attempts by authorities to dissuade villagers from organizing the combat haven’t yielded outcomes. Every yr, the police deploy forces to forestall the combat however the villagers defy the orders and organise the combat.
Villagers consider that Lord Shiva took the type of Bhairava and clobbered two demons, Mani and Mallasura, with sticks. The villagers enact the scene on Vijayadashami day. Group of villagers from the demon’s facet attempt to snatch the idols from the rival group, known as god’s crew. They combat with sticks to take management of the idols.
Thousands of individuals from numerous elements of Kurnool and surrounding districts and neighbouring states like Telangana and Karnataka collect on the village to look at the standard combat.
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