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South Indian men dancing with sticks and ready to have a real fight with each other. They all are dancing with fire. This bizzare festival is known as Banni festival. While Vijayadasami is celebrated with religious fervour all over, thousands of persons of Nerani thanda and Kothapet and adjoining villages resort to a fierce stick fight called Banni utsavam around midnight on Vijayadasami festival in Devaragattu village in Holagunda mandal in Kurnool district that leaves hundreds with bleeding injuries year after year. The Banni fete is held as part of festivities of Sri Mala Malleswara Swamy temple, situated atop an 800 feet high hillock. According to a legend, two demons Mani and Mallasura lived in Devaragattu hillocks and tortured saints who undertook penance. Unable to bear the torture
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