Banni festival

12 Nov 2024 12:47:16 pm

Tags : Banni festival

Topic: Festivals

Why in the news?

Nearly 60 persons were injured in the annual Banni festival organized at Devaragattu in Kurnool district.
Popularly known as ‘karrela samaram’, the festival involves a clash between stick-wielding people from 10 villages during a procession of the deities of Mala Malleswara Swamy on the night of Dasara.
The traditional stick fight had been going on for hundreds of years. Nearly four lakh people from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana thronged Devaragattu to watch the fete.

Source: The Hindu

About Banni festival:

It is a traditional stick-fight.
It is celebrated on the night of Dussehra celebration (Vijaya Dasami) every year.
The objective of this event was to snatch the idols from the God\'s team, leading to a fierce battle known as the Banni Fight.
This festival was celebrated by people under the Vijayanagara Empire.
It is celebrated on the account of the victory of Lord Mala Malleswara Swamy and Goddess Parvati over demonish Mani and Mallasura, who troubled the people at Devaragattu region.
Rituals
- The ritual takes place at midnight when the procession of idols of the ruling deities Malamma (Parvati) and Malleshwara Swamy (Shiva) are brought down the hill temple at Neraneki.
- Devotees carry long sticks or lathis with them for hitting each other with these sticks on the head.
- The basic idea of this fight is to capture the procession idol.