TIRUPATI: A traditional festive celebration turned into a scene of severe violence and tragedy in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district, as fierce clashes during the traditional Banni festival resulted in a devotee’s death and left over 60 others injured.The deceased was identified as Pothu Raju (32), a resident of Indira Nagar locality at Alur.The annual event, held at the historic Sri Mala Malleswara Swamy Temple atop the Devaragattu hillock in Holagunda mandal, saw thousands of villagers gathering to participate in a ritualistic stick-fight that degenerated into a bloody confrontation.The violence erupted late at night on Wednesday during the ceremonial procession of the temple deities.Devotees from neighboring villages, divided into opposing groups, clashed fiercely using long bamboo sticks known as karralu to gain possession of the idols—a practice local tradition holds will bring prosperity to the winning village.Amid the massive surge of people and chaotic clashes, violence flared out of control, resulting in dozens suffering grievous head trauma, heavy bleeding, and deep lacerations.One individual collapsed amid the melee and was pronounced dead, while emergency responders rushed at least 60 injured individuals to nearby hospitals in Kurnool, where several remain under critical care.The severe casualty count has drawn sharp attention once again to the safety challenges surrounding the centuries-old ritual.Despite extensive security deployments, CCTV monitoring, and awareness campaigns by district authorities urging participants to refrain from violent clashes, thousands of devotees routinely brave the intense violent mock battle out of deep religious devotion.Local administration officials and police forces have launched an investigation into the escalation of violence, while medical teams continue to monitor the condition of the injured hospital patients.