Despite ban, roosterfight arenas being set up for Sankranti festival

Notwithstanding the claims by the authorities that stringent measures are in place to check the roosterfights during this Sankranti festival, makeshift arenas for organising the banned sports, known as Kodi Pandelu in local parlance, are being set up in different areas, especially the rural pockets of Krishna and the twin Godavari districts.

Rooster fights are being arranged on the pretext of tradition at many places in Krishna, Eluru, West Godavari, East Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema and other districts

Despite the ban, thousands of people, including women, youth, realtors, film actors, software professionals, NRIs and businessmen, enjoy roosterfights at the arenas. Organisers make elaborate arrangements, including accommodation and refreshments, for the punters and the visitors.

“There is no Sankranti celebration without roosterfights. The sport has been organised for decades during the harvest festival, along with bull shows, flying kites, Bommala Koluvulu and food festivals,” said V. Anjaneyulu, a private company employee of Gudivada.

Huge tents, visitor galleries, digital screens, parking lots, fast food centres, biryani points, make-shift hotels, liquor outlets, pan and cool drink shops and gambling and ‘gundata’ dens are also arranged at the arenas.

“Punters bet huge stakes on each fight. The betting ranges between ₹5,000 and ₹2 lakh. The winner takes the cash along with the dead or injured bird. The meat of the rooster, known as kaju, has a good demand in the market,” said B. Mani, saying that she would set up a food stall at a roosterfight arena.

Despite the ban, roosterfights are arranged near Kankipadu, Poranki, Gudivada, Kaikalur, Bhimavaram, Lankalakoderu, Palakol, Narsapuram, Razole, Eluru, Mudinepalli, Peddapulipaka and other places every year.

Trainers upload photos of trained roosters on various social media groups for sale. Price of each rooster ranges between ₹10,000 and ₹1 lakh. However, the price varies depending on the breed of the rooster, said Ch. Vara Prasad, a punter.

“We teach the birds how to attack the rival and escaping techniques. This year, the demand for roosters is good,” said P. Siva Ram, a resident of Bhimavaram.

NRIs and people living in Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and other cities book hotel rooms in advance to enjoy the roosterfights.

Meanwhile, police, animal husbandry, revenue and other department officials were appealing to the villagers not to organise or participate in roosterfights.

“Cases will be booked under Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act, 1974, and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, against those who violate the orders and conduct roosterfights. An awareness campaign in this regard is underway,” NTR District Collector G. Lakshmisha said.

Published – January 09, 2026 06:26 am IST