70 injured in Devaragattu stick-fight ritual in Karnataka, two critical

Siruguppa (Ballari district): Over 70 people suffered injuries in a stick fight ritual held as part of the Banni Utsava at the Mala Malleswara Swami Temple in border village of Devaragattu. The condition of two people, who are undergoing treatment at Adoni government hospital, is critical, according to Kurnool SP.

More than 20,000 stick-wielding devotees, mostly from Kurava and Boya communities, from 11 villages fight with sticks to secure utsav moorthis (idols) of Mallamma and Malleswara Swami from the rival group (God's team). During the fight, many were injured after the rival groups hurled panju (torch) at each other.  

Villagers believe that Lord Shiva took the form of Bhairava and clobbered two demons, Mani and Mallasura, with sticks. The villagers enact the scene on Vijayadashami. Group of villagers from the demon's side try to snatch the idols from the rival group, called God’s team. They fight with sticks to take control of the idols.