KURNOOL: Villagers of Kairuppala and Kallur celebrated Ugadi in a different manner on Saturday. Villagers of Kairuppala in Asapari mandal took part in the traditional ‘pidakala samaram’ (fighting with dung cakes) when procession of Lord Veerabhadra Swamy was taken out.
About 15 persons were injured in fight but none lodged a complaint.
The lord was taken out of the village on a pleasure trip and while being brought into the village, a group of villagers obstructed it. Soon another group of villagers intervened and both the groups hurled dung cakes at each other. Lord Veerabhadra Swamy was taken into the temple even while dispute was on.
It is believed that Lord Veerabhadra Swamy and goddess Bhadrakali got separated for sometime after an affair. Taking sides of gods, villagers also get divided into groups and fight with each other in the same way every Ugadi.
In a similar manner, the Choudeswari Utsavalu in Kallur were also held in a different way. Slush was arranged for about 3-feet depth near temple and donkeys were made to do ‘pradakshina’ in it.
Former corporator M Venkataswamy said that it is a tradition at the temple.
“It is believed that making the donkeys walk in the slush would usher in peace and prosperity in the society,” he said.