Horse races a fad in village festivals in Vizianagaram

Vizianagaram: After cock fights during Sankranti, now the people of north Andhra are showing interest on horse and bullock cart competitions in villages. After Sankranti, some villages in the district organise village deity festival and during that event, they conduct horse riding and bullock cart contests.

People in Vepada, L Kota and Bondapalli mandals in Vizianagaram district are reportedly participating in the competitions.

Actually, the villagers conduct kabbadi, volleyball, cricket, sangidi (lifting of heavy stones) and bullock cart races during the festivals to attract more public and involve youth in the events. But in the recent years, the villagers and the Utsav Committee organisers are according priority to conduct horse races.

Sompuram in Vepada mandal and Kottapalem in Bondapalli mandal in the district are conducting the contests.

Recently, locals conducted horse riding contest at Kotyada-Talari village in Lakkavarapu Kota mandal in the district to mark the Atchiyamma Perantaalu Utsav. Many people attended the event.

Some of them participated in betting too. Similarly, thousands of people attended Krishnamma Perantaadu festival at Kothapalem in Bondapalli mandal and witnessed horse and bullock cart races.

Generally, the organisers announce first and second and third prizes for the winners. The owners purchase the horses from Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. They spend around Rs 800 per day for food and other services on each horse.

B Ramu, of Bondapalli, who organised the event recently, stated that holding stage programmes and games is common, but he brought nine horses from Vizag and Hyderabad to attract the public. They feel that the festival is prestigious for them, hence, they are ready to spend more on the event. Thousands of people came here to witness the race.