Vijayawada: The traditional Sankranti cockfights, once confined to rural settings, are now making their way into urban areas of Andhra Pradesh, marking a significant shift in how the harvest festival is celebrated. Around ten locations in and around Vijayawada are preparing to host these controversial yet popular events as part of the festive fervour.
Sankranti, celebrated with great enthusiasm across the Telugu states, holds immense cultural significance, especially for farmers who mark the festival with the proceeds from their Kharif harvest. Traditional activities like cockfights, goat races, and kite competitions have long been integral to the celebrations. However, over the years, cockfights evolved into high-stakes events involving crores of rupees in gambling.
In a bid to evade legal action, organisers are now branding these events as part of “Sankranti Sambaralu” (festival celebrations). This year, the cockfighting culture spread into urban centres like Vijayawada, with some arenas being set up in prominent city locations. Reports suggest that several MLAs and local politicians are backing these events, with large banners of politicians and state ministers prominently displayed at cockfight venues.
The preparations for these arenas include VIP galleries, food courts, dedicated parking spaces, and even large LED screens for spectators, transforming the cockfights into grand urban spectacles.
“Jallikattu is celebrated in Tamil Nadu as a traditional sport. Similarly, cockfights are an integral part of Sankranti celebrations here. While animal cruelty is an offence, we ensure these events follow our traditions,” said M Rambabu, a cockfight organised in Ramavarappadu.
