NIZAMABAD: In a bizarre Holi tradition, locals of Hunsa village of Bodhan mandal exchanged “friendly” blows on Thursday evening. Over 500 villagers gathered at the village centre for a bout of fisticuffs, a tradition that goes back 400 years.
While the police denied permission for the locals to fight, the villagers conducted a “friendly” version of the event. Interestingly, those injured did not ask for treatment and only applied ashes of Kama Dahanam.
Hunsa borders Telangana and Maharashtra on the banks of the river Manjeera.
Cutting across caste lines, the men divided into two groups and exchanged blows for few minutes.
In earlier years, the event would go on for much longer, ending in quite serious injuries. This year the cops warned the villagers and kept a vigil during Holi.
Speaking to DC, Mr Sanjeev, a youth from the village said that they strongly believed in the Holi violence.
“Earlier, villagers had unfortunate incidents when they neglected the fighting,” he said, adding that village elders had decided to continue the tradition in view of the wellbeing of the village.
Bodhan DSP R. Venkateshwarlu camped at Hunsa on Thursday to ensure that matters did not go out of hand. People from neighbouring villages and from Maharashtra also visited Hunsa to check out the fight. Meanwhile wrestling competitions were also conducted in the village as part of Holi Jatara.
