Kambala is not a buffalo race, but tradition of Tulunadu

Bangalore Mirror

While thousands of people have joined hands in Chennai demanding the conduct of Jallikattu, people from the undivided Dakshina Kannada are fighting hard to save Kambala - a traditional sport.

 

Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Prof K Gunapala Kadamba, president, Kambala Academy and founder secretary of Dakshina Kannada Kambala Committee said, “It is unfortunate that Kambala is being misunderstood. Kambala is part of Tulunadu tradition and religious practice. It is not a buffalo race.”

 

Prof Kadamba said we need to understand the traditional practices of the region and Kambala enjoyed a special place and was part of the worship. There has been documentary evidence in inscriptions. A portion of the vast paddy fields were reserved for Kambalas that were practiced during the end of the second crop season. Then all the buffalos were made to run on the paddy field (Kambala gadde), which was also entertainment for the farmers. The traditional Kambala was held between November and December because after that, there would be no water in the fields. There were many traditions and beliefs that had to be followed and the sanctity of the paddy field had to be maintained, he said.

 

With the land reform act, the paddy fields were divided, but Kambala continued to be practiced. A few Kambalas were celebrated for a month like the Mulky Seeme Arasu Kambala or Vandara Beedy Kambala because it was a festival of the farmers and farmers even bought tools and equipment for the fields during the festival.

“The villagers have strong beliefs attached to the Kambala fields. At a few places, rituals are followed as a vow,” he said.

 

With the Bajagoli LavaKusha Jodu Kere Kambala in 1969-70, modern Kambalas were born and began to be practiced on an artificial track. Though several modern Kambalas were started, many were still attached to ‘Nagaradhane’, ‘Bootharadene’ or related to a temple. For instance, in Puttur, the Kambala is performed on a track right outside the Mahalingeshwara temple.

 

Prof Kadamba said, “Over the years, Kambala developed and it began to be held under floodlights. Video finishing was used for accurate judgment. The Kambala academy was established to train jockeys and other developments took place to the extent that the Kambala Academy at Miyar introduced laser beam network system for the finishing point. There are scientific studies to prove that buffalos of the coast are fit to run,” he said.

 

The modern Kambala takes place from November and goes on up to April. “Unfortunately, people think only of modern Kambala and forget the traditional Kambala. Hundreds of traditional Kambalas were followed in the coastal region, a practice that begins by noon and ends by evening, which is generally followed by a puja at a temple. Traditional Kambala is practiced the highest in Udupi and Kundapura regions. Kambalas also unite the family and village as well help in the development of the village,” he said.

 

Currently, the case is in the High Court and those in favour of Kambala have been demanding that the court grant at least two years to an expert committee constituted by the government to study Kambala before banning it.