Andhra Pradesh: 50 Injured In A Stick Fight Festival In Kurnool

The stick fight, which is part of the annual Dussehra celebrations of Srimala Malleswara Swamy, started a little late this year due to rain

People taking part in Banni festival.

Source : Special arrangement

As many as 50 people were injured as part of the annual stick fight festival -- Banni festival -- organised on Dussehra in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district. The annual festival was organised at Devaragattu of Holagunda Mandal in Kurnool district on Vijayadasami night.

The stick fight, which is part of the annual Dussehra celebrations of Srimala Malleswara Swamy, started a little late this year due to rain. Thousands from Karnataka Andhra and Telangana had gathered to participate in the festivity.

 Police and administration had made elaborate arrangements to keep the festivity incident-free. They have all the precautions before the festival began but like every year, this year also people have sustained injuries after fighting with sticks.

In the same festival, back in 2020 a total of 50 people were injured due to Banni festival. In a tweet, news agency ANI said, "In large numbers gather to celebrate Banni festival in Devaragattu village of Kurnool district despite the imposition of Section 144 in the area."

#WATCH: People in large numbers gather to celebrate Banni festival in Devaragattu village of Kurnool district despite the imposition of Section 144 in the area, yesterday.

At least 50 persons were injured during the festival. #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/6LAWdKuwg9

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2020

Despite ban due to Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020, the stick fight festival -- Banni festival -- was held as tens and thousands of people participated on the day of Dussehra.

The fight starts late in the night and continues till early in the morning.