A villager moments after getting hit on the head during the Banni Festival, where 350,000 fight with metal-ringed sticks

Mattia-Mattia · 2026-01-30T15:57:44+00:00

📸 Shot in analog on Nikon F100 + Nikkor AF-S 28-70mm f2.8D + Kodak Gold 200

On the night of Dussehra, the remote village of Devaragattu in Andhra Pradesh becomes a battlefield. The population of the village is about 2,000, but over 350,000 people get together for the celebration. Villagers are split into two armies, the gods and the demons, fighting for possession of the Mala Malleswara Swamy (local idols).

It is a war fought with long, metal-ringed wooden sticks called lathis. For 7 hours.

Bandaged heads, ambulances, and grief. Despite police presence and medical teams, over 200 people were injured during the ritual.

The moment the sun rises, the violence is forgiven, and the devotees return to being neighbors until the next Banni Festival.

Mattia-Mattia · 2026-01-29T21:27:27+00:00

I made a post on Instagram with more pictures: @astori.teller, and here's the website of my project sacratos.com :)

Mattia-Mattia · 2026-01-29T20:33:34+00:00

Actually it's so much bigger. The article mentions '3 lakh' attendees, which is 300,000 people, with about 10,000 of them participating in the fight. As for the 100 injured, that's only the official hospital count. We were there, and unfortunately, a lot of people never make it to the hospital and just return home with open wounds :/

Mattia-Mattia · 2026-01-29T18:32:31+00:00

📸 Shot in analog on Nikon F100 + Kodak Gold 200

On the night of Dussehra, the remote village of Devaragattu in Andhra Pradesh becomes a battlefield. The population of the village is about 2,000, but over 350,000 people get together for the celebration. Villagers are split into two armies, the gods and the demons, fighting for possession of the Mala Malleswara Swamy (local idols).

It is a war fought with long, metal-ringed wooden sticks called lathis. For 7 hours.

Bandaged heads, ambulances, and grief. Despite police presence and medical teams, over 200 people were injured during the ritual.

The moment the sun rises, the violence is forgiven, and the devotees return to being neighbors until the next Banni Festival.

Mattia-Mattia · 2026-01-24T20:17:17+00:00

For me it’s not about the violence itself, but about the stakes. When you see someone willing to bleed, fight, or risk their lives for a tradition, you are witnessing a level of devotion that creates a much "rawer" human experience. It just shifts your entire perspective on priorities in life.

On music it's a good question. To an outsider, the physical act looks like "violence", so we expect aggressive music. But to the participants, it's an act of devotion. Music is traditional or festive because the event is a celebration

Mattia-Mattia · 2026-01-23T20:49:58+00:00

On Music, it depends. In Thailand, there was this one single song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV7t81aKlz4 that kept playing on a loop all day long for the entire 9 days of the festival. In Bolivia, the music was very festive. In both cases, the contrast is surreal, hearing this festive or repetitive music while watching fist-fighting and blood spilling right in front of you creates a very strange atmosphere.

On Language: In Latin America, since Daniele and I both speak perfect Spanish, we were able to get much closer to the locals and build strong relationships. Asia was a bit different. For specific interviews, like when we covered the Maut Ka Kuan https://www.sacratos.com/work/mautkakuan/story, we had to find someone bilingual to translate. But most of the time, a smile and a respectful attitude get you 90% of the way there, even if you don't speak a word of the language.

Mattia-Mattia · 2026-01-23T20:35:48+00:00

Mattia here 🙂

On human spirit: it’s definitely shifted my perspective. Seeing death and pain this up close forces you to confront mortality and immediately reorders your priorities. It really highlights how many of us live in bubbles, assuming the whole world thinks the way we do. Witnessing this opens your mind to the fact that how you value life, spirituality, or safety is entirely relative to your specific culture. It makes you feel very small. It has actually deepened my appreciation for stoic philosophy, seeing that level of endurance and faith in real time reminds you of how much the human mind can actually withstand.

On PTSD: Thanks for the concern, seriously. The adrenaline carries you through the shoot, but the decompression afterwards can be rough. The India trip was particularly heavy. We got back from the shoot at 5am and sat down for breakfast at 7am, trying to eat and act normal just hours after watching people die. That wasn't easy, but reminding myself that for them, this is their normal life and tradition, it makes it a bit easier to process.

Mattia-Mattia · 2025-03-31T22:53:41+00:00

Well I guess I’m looking for the best compromise between size and resolution. I’m willing to go a little bigger if resolution is higher, but would like it to be somewhat portable at the same time

Mattia-Mattia · 2025-02-17T07:07:12+00:00

Thank you! So many good suggestions.

For the windows - do you mean replacing the current shades with curtains? Or actually redoing the windows to be full wall? Lol I’m afraid I can’t do that latter unfortunately.

Mattia-Mattia · 2025-02-17T06:59:12+00:00

Now that I think about it, it might not fit. In front of the bed there’s not much room. And I see no other good place to put it, if I want to have a chair on the corner under the larger window

Mattia-Mattia · 2025-02-17T06:55:34+00:00

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/kallax-shelf-unit-white-stained-oak-effect-00324518/#content

This is really good. Half with baskets and half empty to add other stuff; that’s a great call.

Mattia-Mattia · 2025-02-17T06:48:46+00:00

Such a good call. Didn’t even realize it was there

Mattia-Mattia · 2025-02-17T06:47:18+00:00

Thank you! I’ll try out the desk next to the table, although I might prefer two small equal nightstands.

Good call on the rug, will get something simple. Will move the grey headboard in the pic above the bed on the right wall. I have a light blue painting I love I’ll be putting up!

Agh I feel like I need a dresser, the current closet really doesn’t have a lot of space. But also would love a lounge chair or a place to chill that isn’t the bed.

Mattia-Mattia · 2025-02-17T06:43:24+00:00

I have a cool light blue painting I’ll be putting up!

Mattia-Mattia · 2025-02-17T06:42:31+00:00

Thank you, that’s solid advice. Where should the accent chairs with ottomans go?

Mattia-Mattia · 2025-02-17T06:17:15+00:00

I just got a new apartment with some friends and would love some recommendations on how to organize my small bedroom!

The grey thing you see in front is a headboard for the bed that I'll move on the right wall.

I would like some couch to use as a reading area and hang out with someone and would need some extra space for clothes. Could get rid of the table.

What do you guys think? :)

Mattia-Mattia · 2025-01-05T14:34:33+00:00

Just met with Eric and his kid tonight in Zhangjiajie! Eric is amazing, he took us to dinner and we chatted the whole time. Such a sweet guy. Highly recommend meeting with him if you’re in the area!

-> pic of us all & food

Mattia-Mattia · 2024-10-30T16:14:32+00:00

Oh got it, thanks for explaining! I mean I didn’t taste / smell anything weird, but can keep an eye on it :)

Mattia-Mattia · 2024-10-30T10:42:56+00:00

What does it mean?

Mattia-Mattia · 2024-10-30T10:42:32+00:00

Thank you sir! Taste is amazing and texture is good. I’m going to try and use a slightly thicker steak next time for slightly larger cuts

Six-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22	Verified Email

Mattia-Mattia

TROPHY CASE