A last-minute shift in the dates for the Sankranti festival has thrown the traditional cockfighting circuit in Andhra Pradesh into disarray, leaving breeders scrambling to find roosters with specific, astrologically-approved colour combinations.
Astrological Calculations Upend Traditional Schedule
Typically, the Sankranti festival is celebrated on January 13, 14, and 15. However, scholars this year calculated the dates as January 14, 15, and 16, mirroring a leap-year schedule even though 2025 is not a leap year. This one-day shift, announced relatively late, has had unexpected consequences for the deeply ritualised world of festive cockfighting.
Breeders begin preparations months in advance, raising roosters based not just on the date, but on the specific day of the week, ‘thidi’, and ‘nakshatram’ (star sign). They hold strong beliefs that certain feather colour combinations ensure victory on specific days.
Breeders Face a Colour-Coded Crisis
Initially preparing for festivities on Tuesday (13th), Wednesday (14th), and Thursday (15th), breeders had trained roosters suited for those days. The date change means the crucial final day, Kanuma, now falls on a Friday, for which most breeders are unprepared.
Naradala Rambabu, a veteran Aseel breed rooster grower with 15 years of experience, reported a surge in demand for roosters considered auspicious for Fridays. He listed specific, sought-after types like "Kodi Nemali, Dega, Paccha Kaki, Kodi Pingala, Nemali Abraasu."
Echoing this, Bayina Seshagiri, a grower from Kanasanapalli in Eluru district, confirmed a flood of enquiries for Friday-suitable birds. He explained that punters' beliefs are complex, rooted in astrology, numerology, moon signs, and even specific time periods within a day used to select a rooster's colour.
A High-Stakes Scramble for the Right Bird
The situation highlights how deeply tradition, superstition, and sport are intertwined in this cultural practice. The financial and reputational stakes are high, making the correct colour combination as important as the bird's fighting spirit. Breeders are now in a frantic race against time to procure and prepare the right roosters, turning a calendrical confusion into a niche market crisis.
This episode underscores the intricate planning behind the scenes of the Sankranti cockfights, where celestial calculations directly influence earthly preparations and potential fortunes.
