Live
- 4 held for attacking man, causing fatality
- KTR to roll out ‘Gurukula Baata’ from Nov November 30
- Preliminary answer key released for scholarship exam
- Men’s Junior Asia Cup hockey: India thrash Thailand 11-0
- Syed Modi International: Sindhu, Lakshya storm into second round
- Edn dept launches investigation into food poisoning cases at ZPHS
- World Chess Championship: Gukesh outplays Liren in Rd3 for first win
- HC serious over food poisoning cases, orders action against erring babus
- Bhatti dubs KTR a ‘nervous wreck’, rails against his rants
- From maathapatti to bajubandh: Here’s a list of traditional jewellery Sobhita will wear on her wedding
1 killed, 60 hurt in Bunni festival at Devaragattu
One person was killed and several others were severely injured in Karrala Samaram (Bunni festival) at Devaragattu in Halaharvi mandal on Saturday night.
Kurnool: One person was killed and several others were severely injured in Karrala Samaram (Bunni festival) at Devaragattu in Halaharvi mandal on Saturday night.
This is the first time in the history of the Bunni festival, a large number of people suffered grievous injuries, besides a death. This happened despite of deployment of a large number of police to enforce a peaceful atmosphere during the festival. The deceased was identified as Eeranna of Suluvai thanda.
The critically injured have been rushed to the Adoni General Hospital, while others were treated at Alur and Halaharvi health centres. The police are speechless to reason out about the grave incidents.
Bunni festival, also called as Karrala Samaram, which is being celebrated for long has been organized in a grand manner on the hillocks of Devaragattu situated on the outskirts of Neraniki village in Holagunda mandal on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. Over three lakh people from various places of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka thronged the hillock to watch the fete.
In the fete, around 3,500 people participated in the mock fight. In this dangerous traditional Utsavam, Eeranna died of cardiac arrest during the fight. According to folklore, Lord Siva took the form of Bhairava to kill two demons -- Mani and Mallasura. He killed the two demons by fighting with sticks and ensured that there would be no harm to the human kind from the Rakshasas.
Even the people of Neraniki, Neraniki Thanda, Kothapeta and other surrounding villages consider that severe injuries leading to discharge of blood during the mock fight would bring good omen to their villages. In accordance with the belief, the villagers of Neraniki, Neraniki Thanda, Kothapeta representing them to be the followers of the Lord, on the midnight of Dasara, take the idols of Mala Malleswara Swami from Devaragattu to their respective villages. At this time, the villagers of Yellarti, Arikera, Maddigeri, Nitranatta, Sulavai and Hebbetam, who take the side of the demons intercept the followers of Lord Shiva and try to seize the idols.
In this process, both groups fight ferociously with sticks. However, none of the injured from both groups would file cases against others despite of sustaining severe injuries. Though they fight hard on this day, they bear no personal grudge against each other. The villagers even show disinterest in taking medical aid. Instead, they show much interest in smearing sandal power to their injuries and believe that it would heal them faster than the treatment.
The district administration and the Human Rights Commission have failed to stop the traditional mock fight. It is surprising to note that besides conducting a month-long awareness programme, the mock fight continued registering high number of injured.
