The Tradition of Cockfighting and Its Socio-cultural and Symbolic Significance

Abstract

Cockfighting is an entrenched activity customarily practiced in covert settings in the research area. TIns study is concerned to assess the process of cockfighting, methods involved, and feeding, conditioning, rearing and training practices of the local breeds of gamecocks. It provides an insight into the comprehension of people involved in fighting and uncovers the cultural and symbolic factors that determine the status of fight and cock fighters. Furthermore, it attempts to apprehend the role of the various personages in constructing the history, developing and arranging cockfight. Qualitative research methods for data collection including in-depth interviewing, purposive sampling, focus group discussion and participant observation were employed to get a holistic and in-depth analysis of the phenomenon. The fmdings of the research demonstrate that the perception of the cock fighter is highly influenced by the embedded history and cultural construction of fighting. People of the area follow specialized rules during cockfighting and indulged in various types offights. Due to illegal status, people arrange fights in secret places by hiring the expertise of professional arrangers. Nevertheless, the breeding and training practices are overt followed by particular procedures. It is an engrained pursuit that drives the presentation of gender and enacting of masculinity. The ideal masculine performance incorporated with the traits is depicted in the localized context of cockfighting. It has a great symbolic significance that provided cultural and social identity strengthened by symbolism among its practitioners.