Kurnool Banni festival: one dead and dozens injured in annual Andhra stick fight
A 28-year-old man died and scores were hurt during the traditional Karrala Samaram clash at Devaragattu hill as medical teams treated casualties.
A 28-year-old man died and scores of devotees were injured during the annual Banni festival stick fight at Devaragattu in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district on Thursday.
Police said the victim, identified as Pothuraju from Alur, suffered fatal blow wounds from heavy wooden sticks as thousands of villagers fought to secure possession of sacred idols during the ritual.
Medical camps arranged on site provided immediate triage and first aid, while those with serious head wounds and lacerations were shifted to the government hospital in Alur. Estimates of total casualties varied across official and field reports, ranging from over 60 to more than 100 people wounded during the clashes.
What happened at Devaragattu hill
The ritual, locally known as Karrala Samaram or the battle of sticks, takes place every year on the 800-foot-high Devaragattu hill as part of post-Dussehra celebrations. Devotees gather to honour Sri Mala Malleswara Swamy, drawing thousands of participants across state borders from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The night began shortly after midnight on Wednesday with the ceremonial wedding of Sri Mala Malleswara Swamy, officiated by Vedic priest Ravi Sharma. Following special rituals, prayers and the Maha Mangala Harathi, temple festival idols were brought down from the hilltop to the Simhasana Katta at the foothills in a palanquin.
The Banni victory procession, known as the deity's Banni Jaitrayatra, then commenced. Carrying fiery torches and coated in bright turmeric powder, rival groups from several villages clashed as each contingent tried to gain custody of the palanquin and take the deities to their respective hamlets.
Medical arrangements and casualties
The physical confrontation lasted for over half an hour under torchlight. Men swung sticks overhead while chanting traditional slogans, resulting in multiple concussions, scalp lacerations, and bone injuries before the frenzy subsided.
| Location / Facility | Impact / Details |
|---|---|
| Devaragattu hill | Venue of ritual clash; on-site medical camps set up |
| Casualties reported | 1 deceased (Pothuraju, 28) |
| Injured count | Between 60 and over 100 devotees |
| Alur Government Hospital | Primary emergency centre treating head and body wounds |
Public health teams deployed on the ground treated dozens of participants directly at the campsite to prevent local hospital wards from becoming overwhelmed. Although police and district administrators managed the event perimeter and emergency access routes, devotees continued the centuries-old ritual through dawn, regarding participation as an enduring duty of devotion.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fatalities | 1 | Police |
| Age of deceased victim | 28 | Police |
| Reported injuries | Over 60 to more than 100 | Police and local medical camps |
| Height of Devaragattu hill | Approximately 800 feet | Temple and local administrative records |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Devaragattu | Hill site in Kurnool district where the annual Banni festival and stick-fighting clash occur. |
| Pothuraju | A 28-year-old resident of Alur who died from stick wounds during the procession. |
| Kurnool | District in Andhra Pradesh where the incident took place. |
