If you are travelling around the countryside of Andhra Pradesh, you cannot miss the big tents that have come up on farm lands with flags of political parties flying high. These are the ‘baris’ or rings for cockfights - the annual blood sport that takes place in the state during Sankranti, and in which crores of rupees are exchanged.

Despite police crackdowns, protests by animal activists and their ambiguous legal status, there is no let up in the fights that have been a historic tradition in the Palnadu region since 12th century. “In the next three days we expect bets running into a total of five to six crore which might involve about 1,000 cockfights everyday,’‘ an organiser at a `bari’ near Enikepadu village in NTR district told businessline.

Heavy betting

The bets for each cockfight start at Rs 1 lakh and can touch upward of Rs 10 lakh depending on the pedigree of the cocks. “We have regulars who nurture and train cocks throughout the year for the occasion and bets involving them goes beyond Rs 10 lakh,’‘ said Rohit from Chilakalapudi in Machilipatnam, who has been rearing cocks for cockfights for the last 25 years. 

Some of these cockfights are open to all while some are pretty exclusive with entry restricted to only a ‘select few’, especially in the Godavari districts. The `baris’ come up in plots ranging from five acres to 20 acres and are set up by local potentates or politicians.

And mind you, the patrons are not just men but also women. “We are from a prominent agricultural family from Manginapadu and we come here every year with at least 20 cocks to participate,’‘ M Satyavati said, adding that tradition dictated that members from her family should participate. 

The tented arenas do not just host cockfights – many have stalls for various forms of gambling including cards. Many LED screens are also put up to provide audiences with a better view. 

A lucrative business

Rearing cocks for fights is business in itself, according to P. Venkata Rao, who sells at least 500 cocks every year only for fights. “On an average Rs 3,000 needs to be spent on their food and training but sales margins are good,” he said

Ask the organisers how they are holding these events despite them not being permitted by the police, and Ramesh from Nemam, near Kakinada, asserts. “This is not a clandestine activity. The baris are organised with the blessings of the politicians. So nothing can be done to stop them. It is also a matter of culture.’‘

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