Bhimavaram: Despite prohibition, cockfights and gambling events continue to be major attractions during Sankranti celebrations in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district. These activities draw huge crowds who bet heavily on specially-trained fighter cocks.
While the cockfight ('Kodi Pandalu' in local parlance) events started a week before the Makar Sankranti festival, it gradually gained momentum on Bhogi, as all the arenas in Bhimavaram, Akiveedu, Kamavarapukota, Palakollu, Narasapuram, and nearby areas came alive to witness high stakes battle between the roosters. In addition to cockfight, people also host gundata (dice games) and other betting events in the region.
Thousands of enthusiasts including local politicians and celebrities, some even from other states, arrived in luxury vehicles on Sunday midnight to witness and participate in different betting events. The event venues at Pedaamiram, Degapuram and Seesali, resembled movie sets, with installation of digital LED screens for better viewing of all the events. Believe it or not, people placed bets ranging from thousands to as high as Rs 25 lakh for predicting the winner in cockfight, making it a high-stakes affair. At Kothapadu, brief presence of YSRCP leaders reportedly created a tense atmosphere.