Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

One killed, several injured in Dasara ritual

Staff Reporter

As part of the ritual men armed with clubs fight to divert procession of deities to their village

VIOLENT CUSTOM: Men fighting with clubs during a ritual at Devaragattu temple in Kurnool district on Monday night. Photo: U. Subramanyam

KURNOOL: Violent Dasara celebrations at Devaragattu temple near Holagunda on Andhra-Karnataka border on Monday night claimed the life of one person and left scores of others injured.

Ch. Lakshmaiah (31) of Neraniki died after suffering severe head injuries. A large number of others were treated for head injuries at a makeshift medical camp. Others preferred smearing fresh wounds with `bandaru' (a mixture of turmeric and other herbal powders).

Residents of Neraniki, Kothapeta, Tanda and Yallarthi celebrate Mala Malleswara Swamy festival on Dasara day in a violent manner. After the celestial wedding of Maladevi and Malleswara Swamy, the idols of the presiding deities are taken in a procession around midnight when men armed with clubs fight each other to divert the route of the idols to their village.

While one group tries to defend, the other tries to hijack the procession.

Any injuries or even death in the `holy battle' is considered sacred. In fact, the priest is the first person to spill blood to appease the spirits.

Medieval origin

According to historians, the ritual originated in medieval times with the objective of terrorizing the enemy. Also, it was a kind of war-preparedness.

In those times, losing one or two lives in the mock battle was not considered too high a price, as the mock fight would avoid a real battle with huge casualties.

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