The Devaragattu Banni Festival is one of the most unique and traditional festivals of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. It is celebrated every year on the night of Vijayadashami (Dasara) at the Sri Mala Malleswara Swamy Temple in Devaragattu, Holagunda Mandal. Thousands of devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka gather to witness and participate in this centuries-old celebration.
According to local legend, Lord Mala Malleswara Swamy (Lord Shiva) and Goddess Parvati defeated the demons Mani and Mallasura, who had been troubling saints and villagers in the region. The festival commemorates this victory of good over evil and symbolizes the courage, devotion, and faith of the devotees.
The highlight of the festival is the famous Banni Utsavam, a traditional stick-fighting ritual known locally as Karrela Samaram. At midnight, the temple idols are carried in a grand procession from the hilltop temple. Devotees carrying long wooden sticks engage in a symbolic clash as part of the ritual, believing it honors the deity and preserves an ancient tradition. The celebration also includes special pujas, torchlight processions, devotional chants, folk performances, and cultural programs.