Sixty devotees were injured in the mock fight “Bunny” ritual at Devaragattu temple festival in Kurnool district on Monday night. Thirty of them were admitted to hospitals Kurnool.

The injuries were reported despite deployment of over 1000 policemen to disarm the revelers.

It has been a long tradition at the Mala Malleswara Swamy temple at Devaragattu, 10 km from Aluru in Kurnool district, in which select devotees indulge in mock fight with sticks.

The event leaves several participants with bleeding injuries.The festival, which coincides with Dasara, attracts a large gathering of devotees from over 50 villages in Andhra Pradesh and from Bellary district in Karnataka. The temple is owned and managed by the residents of Neraniki village.

However, devotees from neighbouring villages who take part in the celebrations try to hijack the processional deities to their village believing that it will bring good tidings if they are able to snatch the deities.

The ‘warriors’ from Neraniki armed with sticks put up a stiff resistance to protect the deities resulting in an open clash. Those who suffer bleeding injuries get turmeric powder applied before leaving the place.

After the media began highlighting the violent tradition a few years ago, the State Human Rights Commission directed the Kurnool district administration to take all steps to prevent bloodshed during the revelry and at the same time avoid hurting the sentiments of the public.

Despite police making all arrangements and also sensitising the local villagers about the bloodshed and how to avoid it without hurting the sentiments but all proved in vain.

Bodda Raj, a villager from Neraniki who is participating in the ritual since five years said that it is not easy to do away with the rituals. “It is very holy and religious so we cannot stop it, Raju said and added that that this is going on since ages.

Rajesh Karnam also agrees that participating in the ritual is holy and their villages are blessed. Rajesh got sixteen stitches on his head in 2011 ritual. He could not participate this year but is eager to do so next year.

Police administration say that they have succeeded in reducing the number of injuries and in coming years the format could be changed. It is very important that awareness is created. During the ritual scores of people receive head injuries. A few deaths also occurred in the past few years, which did not deter the devotees from taking part in the ritual.