Come Makara Sankrati festival in the month of January every year, Krishna and both the Godawari districts in Andhra Pradesh get enlivened with Cock-fights and Gambling. According to some media reports, the cock-fight betting in India is likely to touch Rs. 200 crores this year. Last year, that figure stood at Rs 100 crore. The cock-fights are mostly and fervently conducted in two states - Andhra Pradesh as 'kodi pandaalu' and in Kerala as 'kozhi kettu'. 

Although there are police warnings, a majority of the punters say cock fighting is a custom that should not be viewed as gambling. The usual fiery political parties forget their differences during this event, with leaders of all political parties coming together and joining hands "for the successful conduct of the cockfights." In East Godavari district cockfights were organised on a massive scale at Kesanakurru, Kesanakurrupalem, Muramalla, Godi, Uppalaguptam, Alla Varam, Mummidivaram and other places. Congress MLAs and MLCs, YSR Congress leaders and TV anchors inaugurated the event which has become synonymous with Sankranti celebration in these parts of the state. Some film personalties also are learnt to have been present and savoured the cockfights. Many more VIPs, NRIs and top leaders are expected to come here.

In West Godavari district, Denduluru MLA Chintamaneni Prabhakar kicked off the cockfights at his village Koppaka, Tanuku MLA Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao in Tanuku rural mandal, Narsapur MLA Mudunuri Prasad Raju in Yelamanchili, Polavaram MLA T Balraj in Duddukuru village. Meanwhile TV anchor Manjula inaugurated the cock fights in Srinivasapuram of Jangareddygudem. YSRCP district president Moshes Raju started cock fights at Asramam in Bhimavaram.

Film actor Ahuti Prasad attended one such event organised at Vempa in West Godavari district while film producers C Kalyan and KSR Rao, MLC Narayana from Karimnagar, former minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav from Hyderabad and many others graced the event at other places in the district. Cockfights are in progress at Bhimavaram, Lingampalem, Nidadavolu, Unguturum Denduluru, Bhimavaram, Akiveedu, Mhadevapatnam, Poduru, Duggirala and many places on a large scale.
 

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