The annual Devaragattu Bunny Utsavam (also known as Karrala Samaram or the stick fight festival) in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh took a tragic turn during the early hours of Oct 22. As per the official information, one person has been confirmed dead following the intense clashes. Over 100 devotees sustained bleeding injuries during the traditional stick ritual. Around five individuals remain in critical condition and are currently receiving emergency medical care.
How the Incident Unfolded
The centuries-old ritual takes place on the night of Vijayadashami (Dussehra) at the Sri Mala Malleswara Swamy temple located in the Devaragattu hillocks of Holagunda mandal. Following the ceremonial wedding (Kalyanotsavam) of the deities, the idols are carried down the hill. Devotees from approximately 11 to 15 surrounding villages traditionally split into two rival groups. Armed with heavy wooden sticks (karralu) and flaming torches (diviteelu), they engage in a fierce battle to "safeguard" or capture the processional idols, leading to widespread head injuries and fractures.
Mythological Background of Violent Rituals
The ritual commemorates the victory of Lord Mala Malleswara Swamy (Shiva) and Goddess Parvati Devi over the demons Mani and Mallasura, who had been troubling sages and devotees in the region. Bunny utsav will be celebrated every year at midnight on Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra). As part of the midnight procession, groups of villagers from surrounding areas engage in a traditional battle using long bamboo sticks and flaming torches to capture the temple idols.
Security Failures Despite Heavy Deployment
The casualties occurred despite the Kurnool district administration and police placing over 1,000 police personnel on-site to monitor crowd control and prevent violence. Lakhs of devotees from across Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana crowded the area, completely overwhelming the security frameworks. Temporary medical camps set up by local authorities are actively treating those with minor injuries, while severe cases have been rushed to hospitals in Adoni and Alur.
While considered a deeply-rooted local tradition, the high-intensity stick fight frequently leads to severe injuries and occasional fatalities. For instance, recent celebrations resulted in tragic violence with one person dead and multiple others critically injured, prompting heavy police deployment, night-vision CCTV cameras, and LED lighting setups by the district administration.