One dead, over 100 injured as Devaragattu Banni Utsav turns violent in Kurnool

Hyderabad: One person died and more than 70 others were injured in violence at the Devaragattu Banni Utsav, the ancient stick-fight festival held at Devaragattu, Holagonda Mandal of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday night, 21 October 2026, as part of the Dasara celebrations.

As the procession made its way through the rural side, two rival groups, reportedly armed with thick bamboo sticks and pestles, joined in and violently attacked each other.

Police said the deceased was identified as Potaraju (28), a resident of Alur. The condition of 10 of them is stated to be critical. Those with serious injuries were admitted to hospitals in Adoni and Alur, while people with minor wounds were treated at a temporary medical facility set up by the authorities.

According to the Holagunda SHO, the deceased died of a heart attack and a case has been registered. Police held awareness camps and tried to dissuade villagers, but there was no change. "They say it is a festival tradition," the SHO said. He further added that when authorities tried to stop the festival earlier, the people sat in protest.

The festival is held every year as part of the Dussehra celebrations at the Mala Malleswara Swamy temple, located on a hillock. After the midnight ceremonial wedding of the deities Malamma (Mallamma) and Malleswara Swamy, their idols are taken out in a procession. Villagers from surrounding areas then divide into two groups and fight with sticks to secure the idols and carry them to their villages.

According to local belief, Lord Shiva took the form of Bhairava and killed the demons Mani and Mallasura with sticks. Villagers re-enact the episode on Vijayadashami. One group plays the demons' side and tries to snatch the idols from the rival group, known as the god's team.

Villagers from Nerani, Nerani Tanda and Kothapeta fight with devotees from Arikera, Aluru, Suluvai, Ellarthi, Nidravatti and Bilehall. The two sides attack each other with sticks, and many receive grievous injuries. However, devotees consider these injuries a good omen.

Thousands of people from different parts of Kurnool, neighbouring districts, and the neighbouring states of Telangana and Karnataka gather in the village every year to watch the fight.

Despite the deployment of more than 1,000 police personnel and repeated efforts to dissuade villagers, the fight went ahead as it does every year. Villagers maintain that the practice is an age-old tradition and have defied police orders in the past as well. This year's preventive measures once again failed to stop the event.