Delhi has finally found its favourite chunky canine, but this was no ordinary contest. The Fat Dogs of Delhi competition turned neighbourhood dogs into celebrity candidates, complete with supporters, campaign-style posts and even polling booths.
The late GOLA has won the Fat Dogs of Delhi contest, taking the top spot with a margin of39904 votes, after weeks that saw dog lovers across Delhi rally behind their favourite contenders. The unusual competition started with an Instagram page celebrating some of the capital’s chonkiest street dogs. What began as a fun online idea eventually featured 64 dogs and turned into a knockout tournament that had people picking sides.
Supporters Took The Contest Seriously
By the final stage, the competition had moved beyond Instagram Stories. Physical
voting stations were set up at four locations across Delhi, allowing people to cast their votes in person. Instead of an inked finger, voters reportedly received a star sticker after writing their chosen dog’s name on a sticky note. A sparkly ballot box added to the election-like setup, where voters could opt for either Gola or Googoo.
The atmosphere was playful, with supporters arriving for different reasons. Some came because they loved dogs, while others reportedly were encouraged by friends or simply wanted to experience the unusual contest for themselves. As per reports, the instructions at one polling station even included a humorous warning: “And oh, no riots, please.”
Gola’s Death Made The Final More Emotional
One of the biggest talking points during the contest was the death of Gola, also known as Kebab or Rajpal Singh, from SDA Market in Hauz Khas. Gola had been among the leading contenders before her death.
Tara, also known as Khan Sahab from Khan Market, was another popular contender who died during the tournament. The organisers shared tributes after receiving news of their deaths.
They said Gola died on Sunday evening, while Tara had died a couple of days earlier. “Given the outpour of public support they have both gotten, and the fact that they are still in the competition, we thought it would be best to inform you,” the organisers said.
Locals had several names for the two dogs. Gola was also called Rajpal Singh, and Kebab, while Tara was known as Dhol. “They were both known and loved,” the organisers said.
The page also said, “To honour the legacy they left behind, fatdogsofdelhi plans on raising funds and donating the proceeds to animal welfare causes.”
The Contest Became More Than A Fun Poll
The competition drew thousands of votes and inspired supporters to make posters, memes and endorsement posts for their chosen dogs. The final stages featured Googoo from Saket and Gola from SDA Market.
Googoo, a 46kg mixed-breed dog, was also undergoing a supervised weight-loss programme at Jeevashram Foundation. For the 22-year-old founder of Fat Dogs of Delhi, who has reportedly chosen to remain anonymous, the physical voting idea came together only three days before the finale. They also addressed criticism that the contest was “insensitive”, saying, “I don’t have a comment on that. I know that we’re doing all that we can for these dogs” as quoted by India Today.
They reportedly said the team was raising funds, working with NGOs and caretakers, and speaking with sponsors about helping the winners, other street dogs and animal welfare organisations.
