The Sampadak Express News Desk
The coastal Karnataka buffalo race Kambala made its Mysuru Dasara debut on Sunday at Sathagalli, with Urban Development Minister and Mysuru district in-charge Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah flagging off a two-day meet featuring 150 pairs of buffaloes.
Organised by the Dasara Kambala Sub-Committee on grounds near the Visvesvaraya Technological University College, the event is being held for the first time as part of the Dasara festivities.
Yathindra Siddaramaiah said the aim of bringing Kambala to Mysuru was to ensure the popular rural sport does not remain confined to its coastal origins and to give it wider recognition across the country and beyond.
He said elaborate arrangements had been made, including nutritious feed and veterinary care for the animals. Transporting a pair of buffaloes to Mysuru costs around ₹5 lakh, he noted. Organisers have also declared the venue plastic-free and put security and other facilities in place.
Puttur MLA Ashok Rai thanked those involved in mounting the event and credited Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar with supporting the initiative. He said Kambala has drawn a large following across Karnataka, estimating statewide spectator numbers at 30 lakh to 40 lakh.
Acknowledging opposition to staging the race in Mysuru amid drought concerns, Mr. Rai said the sport is largely sustained by the farming community and is not driven by large prize money or commercial interests. “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.
He added that the event had been organised with the cooperation of the district administration, appealed to families to attend, and said organisers want Kambala to gain visibility across the State and internationally.
Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Deve Gowda welcomed the participation of people from the coastal region and noted that the traditional sport of Tulu Nadu was being held in Mysuru for the first time as part of the Dasara celebrations. He urged public cooperation for its 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 attended the launch.
The two-day race is scheduled to continue till Monday evening.
