Sankranti Cockfights in AP: Rooster Training, Kukkuta Sastra Beliefs and the Gambling Boom

In Andhra Pradesh, Sankranti celebrations are almost inseparable from cockfighting, a tradition that continues to draw huge attention every year. Not only people from neighbouring States but also who settled abroad return to their native villages during the festival to witness the contests, underlining the immense craze surrounding the sport.

From careful selection and specialised training to strict diets and fight preparation, every aspect of a fighting cock’s life is well planned. The Godavari districts and Krishna district are especially known as major hubs for cockfighting, which began as a traditional rural sport during the harvest festival but has now grown into large-scale gambling involving bets running into crores of rupees over the four days of Sankranti.

Owners of the roosters seek trainers with a strong “brand value” those who have previously trained winning roosters. In many cases, trainers belong to families that have practised this craft for generations. Some owners bring in roosters trained by renowned wrestlers from Hyderabad’s Barkas area, while others invite experts from places like Kolkata to train their birds, particularly in regions such as Konaseema.

Typically, one trainer supervises only 10 to 15 roosters and is paid between ₹15,000 and ₹20,000 a month according to sources. Training usually begins around Dasara, though short-term and year-long training programmes are also popular in some centres.

A fighting rooster’s daily routine is tightly scheduled. Training begins as early as 5 a.m., with special diets introduced up to 60 days before a fight, including dry fruit laddoos, herbal mixes and cooked greens.

About 40 days before the contest, egg whites are added to the diet. The birds are exercised outdoors for several hours, given grain feed in the evening and allowed long periods of rest. To remove fear and improve alertness, they are hand-fed and even made to swim occasionally.

A week before Sankranti, complete rest is given to ensure peak performance.

Vitamins, supplements and antibiotics are also commonly used to prevent fatigue, control weight and protect the birds from seasonal diseases such as infections and fungal ailments. Special treatments, including herbal baths and steam therapy, are believed to toughen the birds’ bodies so they can withstand injuries during fights without losing aggression.

Adding another layer to the tradition is what enthusiasts call “Kukkutashastra” a belief system that dictates the right day, direction and opponent for a rooster to fight, based on weeks, lunar phases and breeds. In many villages of the Godavari districts, this ritual is followed before cockfights begin.

While most regions use knives tied to the birds’ legs, parts of the undivided Krishna district hold knife-free contests, where the rooster’s naturally grown spur (kata) is sharpened and used as the weapon.

To support this thriving culture, hundreds of breeding and training centres operate across the State. Over 200 around Bhimavaram, nearly 150 near Nunna in the Krishna district, and around 200 in the undivided East Godavari district alone highlighting the scale at which cockfighting remains embedded in Sankranti celebrations, despite ongoing legal and ethical debates.