Karnataka - Mangalore   

Kadri Kambala on Sunday

Photo: R. Eswarraj

Getting ready: A view of the paddy field that is being prepared for Kadri Kambala to be held on Sunday.

MANGALORE: Kambala, a traditional buffalo race across slushy fields, will be organised at Kadri on December 2.

A distinct feature of Kadri Kambala is that it will begin in the afternoon and end before sunset. Many other Kambalas in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts begin in the afternoon, go on throughout night and sometimes continue till the next noon, according to Kadri Navaneetha Shetty, convener of the Kadri Kambala Committee.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday he said that historical records showed that Kadri Kambala was originally organised under the patronage of the kings of the Alupa dynasty.

Hence it is also known as Arasu Kambala. Since it is being held near the Kadri Manjunatha Swamy temple, it is also known as Devara Kambala.

Vice-president of the committee Pradeep Kumar Kalkura said that this year’s Kambala would be held from 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. The race would be held in “kane halage”, “hagga hiriya” and “hagga kiriya” categories. The first prize would be a gold medal.

This year’s Guttu award, a gold medal instituted in memory of the late Balakrishna Shetty, one of the organisers of Kadri Kambala, would be given to Kadri Rudrayya Devadiga, a social worker.

In addition, the Dakshina Kannada District Kambala Committee would present its “Kambala Shrestha Award” for 2006-07 to 12 persons during the occasion.

This includes six owners of pairs of buffalos and an equal number of people who steer the pairs during the race. This district-level committee presents its annual awards at different places where the Kambalas are held.

This year it has chosen Kadri Kambala as the venue to present its awards. This award is not sponsored by the Kadri Kambala Committee.

In the forenoon on Sunday there will be separate races for men and women. It will be held in three categories: for those aged below 12, for those aged between 12 and 18 and a race open to all. In addition, there will be a tug-of-war competition for men and women.

“Tulunada thappangai” competition will also be held on the occasion.

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