AP Cockfight: Now it’s time for cockfight… Rs 10 to 25 lakh per bet… Fence and bouncer around the bar
AP Cockfight: Cockfights have started in the coastal districts. Iron fences and bouncers were arranged around the bar. The leaders and their relatives themselves are involved in betting. The race continues day and night without stopping for four-five days from the day of Bhogi.
In both the districts of Godavari, an average of ten heavy weights have been prepared for the chicken race in each division. More than one lakh chicken balls will enter the ring. There are orders from the State High Court on the ban on cock racing. Due to this, the police ran and destroyed the weights kept for the chicken race. But the betting chicken is kicking.
Heavy casualties have been reported in many parts of the Combined Godavari districts. Every year the police races ahead of the competition. After that, it became customary to change hands as the chicken raced. Gambling games like chicken racing, poker, gundat generate transactions worth around Rs 1,500 crore. But its top portion changes hands in the chicken race.
They are preparing for the race depending on the day (week), direction, breed of the rooster. The people of crow, pingla, eagle and peacock species have to be brought into the ring at any time, auspicious times have been fixed for this. These were sent to the contestants in the social media group. Information about where and at what level competitions are organized in Godavari districts is also shared on social media. Heavy weights have been installed in both the districts of West Godavari. In the big bars built in areas like Tanku and Achanta, each bet costs more than Rs 25 lakh.
The largest circle in both the East Godavari districts was created in I.Polavaram Mandal Muramalla. Managers say that each bet there ranges from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Arrangements were made around the ring armed with iron fences, bouncers, drones and CC cameras. LED screens have also been installed for visitors to view. Besides, VIP and VVIP passes have also been prepared to participate in these chicken races. Only those with passes will be allowed there. Despite the police presence, MPs, MLAs and public representatives have entered the field and this time too the cock race will continue with full force.
Muramalla, Katrenikona, Vetlapalem in East Godavari district, Bhimavaram, Vempa, Sisli and Dumpagadapa in West Godavari district are famous for poultry farming. But apart from these, cockfights are taking place in all the areas in both the common Godavari districts. Chicken breeds like crow, peacock, eagle, pachakaki and ketuwa will compete in the competition. Cock races are held in many hundreds of places. In these, each bet in heavy weight is in lakhs, whereas in small weight, each bet is from Rs 50 thousand.
Beaten chicken meat is also sold
There are more people who wait for the meat of the losing chicken than those who play chicken. The condition is whether the chicken lives or dies, Rs. Multiplies into thousands. The bet which earns its owner lakhs of rupees by fighting till death, will earn thousands of rupees even after death. Pandem Rayu sends Kosa meat (killed chicken) as festival gifts to his relatives, political leaders and officials. Butcher shops have also opened near chicken fairs.
Hundreds of chickens participate in the chicken race that starts at Bhogi. Hundreds of kilos of meat is coming from this. Last year the price of Kosa meat was around Rs 1,000 per kg. Managers say that the price has increased further this year. The hen that loses the bet is put back into the ring if it is not too damaged. Even if he had won the same race, the seriously injured rooster was not allowed to enter the ring again. It is also sold for meat. The price of such chicken is higher. The price of each chicken is around Rs 5 thousand. Most people consume this meat because these chickens are tasty and healthy without fat.
(Jagadishwar Rao Jarajapu, Hindustan Times Telugu)
