In a striking incident during Sankranti celebrations, a man from Andhra Pradesh reportedly won ₹1.53 crore in a high-stakes cockfight held in West Godavari district. The event took place on Thursday in Tadepalligudem, and is being described as one of the biggest betting wins associated with cockfighting in the region.

The winner, Rajahmundry Ramesh, placed a massive bet against Gudivada Prabhakar, with both men backing their roosters in the traditional contest. As per local reports, sharp blades were tied to the birds’ legs—a practice commonly associated with illegal cockfighting events. Ramesh’s rooster emerged victorious, securing him the enormous cash prize.

According to sources, Ramesh had been preparing his specially bred rooster for nearly six months, feeding it a high-protein diet including nuts to improve strength and endurance. Following the win, he reportedly expressed immense joy at becoming a millionaire overnight.

Meanwhile, cockfighting events were organised on a large scale across several parts of Andhra Pradesh for the second consecutive day during the Sankranti festival, despite the practice being officially banned.

Related development

In a separate incident, traditional buffalo fights known as Moh Juj were held in parts of Assam’s Morigaon district during the Magh Bihu festival, even though the Supreme Court has banned such events. Officials declined to comment, stating that the matter is sub judice.