Andhra Pradesh: Gambling overshadows tradition as Sankranti loses its rural aporting spirit

Vijayawada: Sankranti, traditionally a festival rooted in village life and agrarian gratitude, witnessed a worrying shift this year as gambling activities dominated celebrations across several rural pockets, overshadowing age-old sports and cultural practices. What was once a season of community bonding through traditional games increasingly turned into a hub of betting and high-stakes gambling.Sankranti is usually celebrated by farmers as a thanksgiving to nature, cattle, and the forces that helped them reap a good Kharif harvest. Families living in cities customarily return to their native villages during the festival, transforming rural areas into vibrant centres of joy and togetherness. Traditionally, the festivities featured bull races, cow beauty contests, kabaddi tournaments, badminton matches, weightlifting events, and indigenous martial arts. In earlier days, village youth trained for months with pride and passion to excel in these competitions."This was the one time of the year when the entire village gathered on a common ground to cheer its youngsters," recalled Kunapareddy Sudhakar, a senior farmer from Kaikaluru. "Winning a kabaddi match brought more honour than money."However, this festive season saw a noticeable decline in the organisation of such events. Even competitions conducted under govt auspices attracted only limited participation. In stark contrast, gambling activities such as cockfighting, card games, and small and large betting bazaars flourished across villages, drawing massive crowds."Young people were more interested in betting rings than playgrounds," said Nakkella Satyanarayana, a retired headmaster. "They see quick money, not long-term values."Despite gambling being illegal, lakhs of people reportedly participated, assuming that violations would be overlooked during the festive period. Social scientists and activists raised serious concerns over this trend. "If unchecked, gambling can derail rural youth and erode the cultural fabric of village life," warned a sociologist.Kaikaluru police of Eluru district conducted a cricket tournament named Kaikaluru Police Premier League (KPPL) to encourage youth. A total of 79 teams participated in this tournament, and district SP Sri Pratap Siva Kishore attended the prize distribution. He said that police took a proactive step and conducted KPPL to divert the youth from gambling and engage them in sport. He asked youth to stay away from gambling.