Kambala Makes Mysuru Dasara Debut With 150 Buffalo Pairs Racing

150 buffalo pairs race as Kambala debuts at Mysuru Dasara

Coastal Karnataka’s traditional sport of Kambala was held for the first time as part of the Mysuru Dasara celebrations, with Urban Development Minister and Mysuru district in-charge Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah flagging off the two-day buffalo race at Sathagalli on Sunday.

The event, organised by the Dasara Kambala Sub-Committee, is being conducted at the sprawling grounds near the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) College. It features 150 pairs of buffaloes.

Sport brought beyond coastal Karnataka

Dr. Yathindra said Kambala, a popular traditional rural sport of the coastal region, should not remain confined to its place of origin.

He said the objective of bringing the sport to Mysuru Dasara was to give it wider recognition and enable people across the country and beyond to witness it.

The minister said elaborate arrangements had been made for the buffaloes taking part in the event. These included nutritious feed and veterinary care.

The debut at Dasara gives the traditional sport a platform outside its coastal setting while retaining its association with the rural community that sustains it.

Transport and event arrangements

Dr. Yathindra said bringing a pair of buffaloes to Mysuru costs around ₹5 lakh.

The organisers had also decided to make the event plastic-free and put security and other facilities in place, he said.

Puttur MLA Ashok Rai thanked those involved in organising Kambala as part of Dasara and credited Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar with extending support for the initiative.

Rai said Kambala had gained a large following across Karnataka, attracting an estimated 30 lakh to 40 lakh spectators.

Debate over holding the race

Rai acknowledged the opposition to holding Kambala in Mysuru amid prevailing drought concerns.

He said the sport was largely sustained by the farming community and was not driven by large prize money or commercial gains.

“Kambala enthusiasts are not necessarily wealthy. The prize money is modest, while transporting the buffaloes over long distances involves considerable expenditure. They raise and care for the animals as they would their own children,” he said.

His remarks placed the cost of transporting the buffaloes alongside the community’s role in raising and caring for them.

Organisers seek wider visibility

Rai said the event had been organised successfully with the cooperation of the district administration and appealed to people to attend with their families.

He added that the organisers wanted Kambala to gain visibility across the State and at the international level.

Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Deve Gowda welcomed the participation of people from the coastal region and said the traditional sport of Tulu Nadu was being held in Mysuru for the first time as part of the Dasara festivities.

He urged the public to extend their cooperation to ensure the event’s success.

MLC K. Shivakumar, Zoo Authority of Karnataka chairman K. Ranganathswamy, State Kambala Association president Devi Prasad Shetty, Chandrahass Sadhu Sunil, Dr. Rakshith Raj, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikantha Reddy and others were present.

Source: The Hindu