Full Breakdown
Delhi’s “Fat Dogs” Contest Goes Viral Ahead of September 29 Finale
By Drooid · · How we work
The Contest’s Core Event
An Instagram-based knockout tournament organized by the page Fat Dogs of Delhi pits 64 neighbourhood dogs against each other in a series of daily polls. Voting began on September 24 and the grand finale, when the “fattest dog of Delhi” will be crowned, is scheduled for September 29. Dogs face off head-to-head in Instagram Stories; the winner of each pair advances to the next round until only two remain.
Background & Context
The competition was created by an anonymous final-year Delhi University journalism student. She said the idea arose after seeing “OOMF” (One Of My Followers) contests on X and wanted a light-hearted way for residents to bond. Although some outlets note inspiration from Alaska’s “Fat Bear Week,” the organiser has said the contest was not directly modeled on that event.
Delhi’s stray-dog population is estimated at about one million, with many animals cared for by local residents while others are viewed as a public-health concern. The contest emerged amid ongoing debates over stray-dog management and recent court orders to move unvaccinated dogs to shelters.
Timeline
- September 24 – Voting opens with 64 nominees.
- September 27 – Quarter-finals conclude.
- September 28 – Page followers rise from ~1,000 at launch to over 85,000.
- September 29 – Final vote and announcement of the winner.
Data & Statistics
- 64 dogs entered the knockout bracket.
- 85,000+ Instagram followers by September 28.
- Googoo (Saket) – mixed-breed, 46 kg (101 lb); now on a regulated weight-loss diet of 250 g daliya, three chapatis in milk, and a small portion of chicken.
- Rambabu (Yusuf Sarai) – mixed-breed, locally nicknamed “Chonky,” regularly fed biryani by a caregiver.
- Two contestants, Gola (Hauz Khas) and Tara (Khan Market), died before the finale, prompting tributes and a pledge to donate proceeds to animal-welfare causes.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Kabir Wadhawaran, a 19-year-old who entered Googoo, recalls spotting the dog in 2021 when it was “less than half this size” and now believes Googoo “will win 100 %.”
Official Statements & Responses
- The page’s organisers announced that, in memory of the deceased dogs, they will raise funds and donate the proceeds to animal-welfare organisations.
- Organisers also began highlighting animal-welfare groups and individuals seeking donations on the Instagram feed.
- Delivery platform Blinkit publicly backed contestant Kutta Singh and pledged free treats for the eventual winner.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree that Gola and Tara died before the finale, but coverage differs on whether their names remained on the competition bracket after death. The BBC notes supporters kept them “in the running,” while NDTV reports the organisers announced their deaths and removed them from the contest. No official clarification has been issued regarding the bracket status of the deceased dogs.
What’s Next
The final round of Instagram Story voting will run on September 29; the winner will be announced later that day. Organisers have reiterated that any funds generated will be channeled to animal-welfare charities in honor of the two dogs that passed away during the tournament.