If you’re a fan of the Kannada blockbuster film, Kantara, then you’re no stranger to the Tulu Nadu sport, Kambala. Right at the beginning of the film, you can spot the hero involved in the traditional sport of steering buffaloes around a slushy paddy field that acts as a racetrack. For the first ever, the metropolitan city of Bangalore is wholeheartedly hosting its first Kambala. Read on to find out the dates, venue and more, so you can witness the traditional sport from Kantara.
What Is Kambala? What Is Its History?
With its origins dating back over a thousand years, Kambala is a traditional sport and festival celebrated by the Hoysala Kings to test if the buffalos were trained enough to be used in war. It’s an annual festival that takes place from November to March in Dakshina Kannada. The ancient sport is played by farmers to express their gratitude to Lord Kadri Manjunatha —an incarnation of Lord Shiva— for blessing their buffaloes with good health.
Bangalore’s First Kambala: Date, Venue & Other Deets
The Silicon Valley of India is all set to enter the rustic setting of slush and paddy fields to let city dwellers immerse themselves in the ancient culture of Tulu Nadu. Bangalore is all set to host its first-ever Kambala this month. According to a report by The New Indian Express, Ashok Kumar Rai, Bengaluru Kambala Committee President revealed that 116 Kambala buffalo owners registered to participate in the coveted competition.
The buffalo racing sport will be held at the Palace Grounds on November 25 and 26. Ashok Kumar Rai further added that over 8 lakh people are expected to flock to the venue to witness the city’s first Kambala race. Moreover, the committee wants to put this larger-than-life event on the global map. For this, they will have the longest ‘kare’ (slush track) spanning 155 metres instead of the staple 145-metre one.
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Relish Delicious Tulu Delicacies & Shop For Handicrafts
Also, the winner of this race will proudly take back home a handsome cash price of ₹1.50 lakh. He further stated that the telos behind organising the Kambala event in Bangalore is to bring forward the issues faced by the Tulu-speaking community to the notice of the government. To encourage enthusiastic participation in large numbers, they aim to host at least 125 pairs of buffaloes by offering ₹50,000 to each buffalo owner as transport costs.
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Also, Kambala festival-goers can feast on Tulu Nadu delicacies at the 250 stalls set up. From jackfruit dishes to pickles, there’s a lot in store for foodies to explore. Also, if you’d like to shop for handicrafts from the coastal region, that’s taken notice as well. The best part is that Bahubaali actor Anushka Shetty will be inaugurating the event on November 25.
For the safety and care of buffaloes, the organisers deployed a veterinary ambulance for the event. They also transported six to seven water tankers to the city for the animals.
Bangaloreans, are you looking forward to witnessing Bangalore’s first-ever Kambala event?
Cover Image Courtesy: Hombale Films
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