Cockfight is a pleasurable pastime of the tribal people under Mahakalapada block which is arranged mostly during the winter season. For the tribal people, it is a popular means of entertainment to pass off chilly winter evening hours. The game includes betting. Though wildlife activists have opposed the game on the ground of cruelty to animal, yet the tribals are never deterred by it and arrange the game for fun and merrymaking.
If an onlooker pays a visit to Arun Nagar, Pandarmaili, Baghuameda, Jamboo, Kandarpatua,lunimathia, Suniti and Prabhakarpur during a chilly winter evening then he is for sure to catch sight of the game at several places with huge crowds betting for cocks and enjoying the game.
In a cock fight, crowd gathers to see bred roosters, called gamecocks, which are pitted against each other with sharp razors or blades attached to their legs. later, the cocks are left to fight with each other on an open ground. The birds plunge and slash each other in a deadly duel. The gaffs inflict deep puncture wounds into their body hile their wings and legs get broken, and eyes gouged out. A cockfight usually results in the death of one or both the birds.
“The fighting ground is either barricaded or circled with ropes. People keep bets ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 300. Those who put bets on the cock that wins share the cash. The owner of the victorious animal also receives due share of the betting. He also has the right to take away the losing cock, said Noren Sardar, an enthusiast of the sport.
People do not find anything wrong in it. The game is popular in the remote coastal hamlets of Mahakalapada block for last several decades during winter. Every year, the cock fight occurs in the coastal pockets from Prathamasthami to Makar Sankranti and people from all age groups gather to watch the cockfight with excitement. The betting stakes are, however, symbolic. The sums of money for placing betting are always very minimal, added Sardar.
People from the nearby Bengali dominated villages and adjoining panchayats come to watch the cockfight. Because of a huge gathering, local business also picks up during the days when cockfights are held, said local residents.