Kambala all set to make debut at Mysuru Dasara

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Puttur MLA Ashok Rai, Minister in-charge of Mysuru district Yathindra Siddaramaiah and MLA G.T. Deve Gowda during a meeting on the preparations for Kambala event during Dasara, in Mysuru on Friday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The coastal folk sport of Kambala will make its debut at Mysuru Dasara this year, with the organisers hoping to make it one of the major attractions of the festivities. Preparations are under way for the event, which will be held on October 18 and 19.

Urban Development and Mysuru district in-charge Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah announced the dates on Friday while reviewing arrangements for the event.

Dr. Yathindra said Kambala had been included in Mysuru Dasara to give the festival a new dimension and showcase the traditional sport of the coastal region to visitors from across India and abroad.

He said Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai had been entrusted with organising the event and the district administration would extend all necessary support. The event was being organised without a commercial motive and with the objective of preserving and promoting the traditional sport, he said.

“With tourists from across the country and abroad visiting Mysuru for Dasara, organising Kambala here will help give the traditional sport international exposure,” Dr. Yathindra said.

Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Deve Gowda said the event should be organised in a manner that would impress visitors and encourage them to seek similar Kambala events in Mysuru every year. Though Dasara would feature several programmes, including an air show, Kambala should emerge as one of its major attractions, he said.

Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai said a 145-metre-long track was being prepared for the competition. Around 150 to 160 pairs of buffaloes from the senior category, with a record of good performances in previous competitions, were expected to participate.

He said large publicity hoardings would be installed along the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway to create awareness about the event.

Mr. Rai said Kambala represented the pride and tradition of the coastal region and was not being organised for commercial purposes. Owners would incur an expenditure of around ₹2 lakh to bring each pair of buffaloes to Mysuru. Gold prizes weighing 16 grams and 8 grams would be presented to the winners.

Entry would be free for the public and a gallery with a seating capacity of around 8,000 would be provided. A special counter and pass facility would be arranged for foreign tourists, he said.

Food stalls serving popular coastal dishes such as pundi and neer dosa, besides cultural programmes, would also be part of the event.

The Kambala event would be formally inaugurated at 6.30 p.m. on October 18 and continue until the evening of October 19, Mr. Rai said.

State Kambala Committee president Deviprasad Shetty, Dakshina Kannada District Kambala Committee president Chandrahas Sanil, office-bearers of the Kambala committee and others were present.

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