Rooster Knife Makers Witness Surge in Business During Sankranti Season!

Though small in size, a rooster knife can cause severe bleeding if it strikes. A single blow is enough to bring down the injured bird within seconds. Rooster knives play a crucial role in cockfighting arenas. With the Sankranti festival approaching, discussions around these knives are gaining momentum in villages.

Strong and Unbreakable
Rooster knives are sharpened in six stages. To ensure they do not break or bend at the tip, extreme hardness is required. Therefore, they are made using stainless steel commonly used in heavy vehicle wheel bearings. To enhance strength, the knives are heated in furnaces six times.

Knife Binders Are Key
During Sankranti cockfighting events, those who tie the knives to the roosters’ legs are in high demand. For four festival days, they receive significant work opportunities. Organizers believe that the outcome of a bet largely depends on how the knife is tied.
The knife is tied to the little toe of the rooster’s right leg. Throughout the fight, the knife binder closely monitors the leg. If the knife breaks or changes direction, the fight is paused, corrected, and resumed. As winning bets involve lakhs of rupees, knife binders are paid between ₹25,000 and ₹35,000 per day.

Manufacturing Hubs in Godavari Districts
Most rooster knife manufacturing units are located in West Godavari district areas such as Ganapavaram, Nuzvid, Guravaipalem, and Mupparthipadu. In East Godavari district, manufacturers are found in Mummidivaram, Katrainikona, Edurlanka, Samarlakota, and Anaparthi.
From the twin Godavari districts, these knives are supplied to both Telugu states and Karnataka. The Sankranti season business alone is estimated to be worth nearly ₹5 crore.

Limited Daily Production
A single craftsman can produce only 5 to 6 knives per day. Hence, production continues throughout the year to meet Sankranti demand. Earlier, the price of a knife ranged between ₹200 and ₹300, but it now goes up to ₹1,000.
Raw iron is sourced from Chennai, Vijayawada, Tiruvuru, and nearby regions. Each knife is used for only one cockfight.