The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Vijayadasami with a difference

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 22, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Vijayadasami with a difference

By M. Ahiraj

BELLARY, Oct. 21. Vijayadasami, the last day of Navaratri, is celebrated with a difference at Neraniki, a border village in Alur taluk of Kurnool district.

Elsewhere, people rejoice and celebrate the festival with religious fervour and fanfare. But people in and around Neraniki fight against each other as part of the celebrations, which will begin in the village on Friday this year.

On the Vijayadasami day, devotees from various places, including Bellary and other districts, congregate at Guddada Mallaiah Temple, near Neraniki. The temple is situated on top of a hill, surrounded by forest. It is here that the tradition is followed.

People carrying lathis studded with iron rings throng the place before sunset to participate in the celebrations. The celebrations begin at 8 p.m.

The devotees start hitting each other with the lathis when the idol of the deity is taken out in a procession. From then, only the sound of the lathis hitting human bodies is heard for almost over an hour. A lot many sustain severe injuries in the melee, especially on their heads.

The devotees on their own apply turmeric powder to the wounds and continue to participate in the "fight". When everything is over, the injured comes to a makeshift hospital for treatment. At the makeshift hospital, a team of doctors will be ready to suture the wound and apply dressing to it. There have been instances of devotees losing their lives during the festival.

This feat is repeated the next morning when the idol of the deity is brought back to the temple.

The festival comes to an end after the "karnik" (saying) by the poojary of the temple. During "karnik", which takes place minutes before sunrise, the poojary spells out the future, especially with regard to cultivation, prices and the like.

And as the sun rises, the devotees go to the temple, offer prayers with flowers and coconuts and leave the place only to return the next year to celebrate the festival.

What is surprising is nothing is done to prevent the age-old tradition. No case is booked against anyone even in case of a death. Over the years, the event has turned out to be an opportunity for rivals to settle scores.

The fight, according to elders, is between the people of Neraniki and surrounding villages over the rights to carry the idol of the deity.

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