Visakhapatnam: Prattipati Ramana (name changed), a 55-year-old farmer from West Godavari district, still recalls the days when the crowd cheered for his rooster, which went on to win a dozen bouts in its prime. “There were no flashing knives or pools of blood during those contests. They were regarded as a recreational activity rather than a gambling event. The wagers were modest,” says Ramana.
Fast forward to the 2000s, Ramana has distanced himself from cockfighting despite the skyrocketing stakes. However, his current concern is his son, an IT professional in Bengaluru, who now spends thousands of rupees on cockfights during the Pongal festival when visiting the village.
Before making national headlines for large-scale, organised cockfights in sprawling arenas with digital screens and bets running into crores of rupees, the blood sport was once a simple evening pastime for farmers and agricultural labourers in Andhra Pradesh. Till the early 2000s, after a long day of farm work, villagers would spend about an hour either spectating or directly participating in cockfights.
The ‘Dinki fights’, often referred to as traditional or ‘natural’ cockfights, were common, where no sharp implements like knives or blades were strapped to the birds’ legs. After the matches, a few would relax with a drink or two before calling it a day by 7 pm.
However, in the past two decades, the landscape has shifted dramatically. With increasing police scrutiny, these events, once held on a smaller scale throughout the year, have evolved into massive betting spectacles, especially during the week surrounding the Sankranti festival. What was once a rural tradition has morphed into a high-stakes, commercialised activity.
Eluru range DIG G V G Ashok Kumar said police teams are taking stringent measures to prevent cockfights during the Sankranti festival. “We have imposed legal action against habitual organisers. Awareness campaigns were conducted to discourage participation in cockfights, which are now being disguised as festival celebrations,” he added.
The growing popularity of cockfights is attracting not only locals but also visitors from other states, including politicians and movie stars from Telangana to Godavari and Krishna districts during Sankranti. Unfortunately, the trend of youth attending these events and posting videos on social media has become all too common.
Boosala Srinivasa Rao, a TDP leader from East Godavari district, commented on the increasing scale of wagers. “With the rise in employment opportunities both abroad and in metro cities, as well as local income sources from aquaculture and other industries over the last two decades, the nature of the event has drastically changed. From air-conditioned galleries to digital screens, with food and liquor provided on-site, cockfighting has transformed into a gambling activity rather than a traditional sport. It’s unfortunate,” he said.
Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences director Dr K Rambabu said the mechanics of gambling addiction are the same across all formats. “The uncontrollable urge to gamble can be managed through behavioural therapy and medication,” he advised.
