A 11-year-old boy died and 30 people were injured in a mock-fight at a temple in Devaragattu, in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, on Friday night.
The boy, identified as Mahesh of Neraniki village, died in hospital after he suffered injuries in a stampede.
Two groups clashed with stones and sticks on Saturday morning, considered unusual in the history of the temple, leading to intervention by the police who dispersed the warring groups.
The festival is celebrated in the Malava Malleswara Swamy temple located at Neraniki, near Aluru on the Karnataka-Andhra border on Dasara day. People of over 30 villages from both States take part in the festival which includes Kalyanotsavam and mock fight.
As per the temple ritual, after the celestial wedding around midnight, thousands of devotees armed with clubs jostle with each other to 'hijack' the processional deities to their respective village which they believe augurs well for them if they succeed.
During the ritual, residents of Neraniki and its hamlets put up a stiff resistance to protect the deities. The able-bodied men holding large wicks and sticks indulge in war-dance and mock fight. Scores of people suffer head injuries and leave the place after smearing turmeric powder to the wounds.
Police teams led by SP Ravikrishna were deployed in a large number, but they acted tactfully in order not to instigate the devotees.
In the past, the authorities have launched several campaigns to educate the public about the negative impacts of the ritual, but with little result so far.
A few years ago, officials distributed low-cost helmets to the revelers but it was not pursued the following years. It was felt that supply of helmets, either through free distribution from the temple or sale, would drastically bring down the casualties.
