Kurnool: One dead and dozens injured during Banni festival clash

A traditional stick-fight ritual known as the Banni festival turned violent in the Devaragattu hills of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. The incident occurred late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning during the procession of the Sri Mala Malleswara Swamy ceremonial idols.

Clashes broke out between two groups of villagers participating in the ritualistic fight, which escalated into stone-pelting and the use of flaming torches. Reports indicate that one person, identified as Potharaju, died following the violence. Approximately 50 to 70 people sustained injuries, with several individuals reported to be in critical condition.

The festival, which attracts nearly three lakh people from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana, involves a symbolic confrontation between followers of the deity and followers of demons. While many sustained serious injuries, including bleeding from the head, nose, and ears, local reports suggest that some villagers view such injuries as a good omen.