Kambala season conclude successfully

Team Udayavani, Mar 18, 2019, 2:40 AM IST

Mangaluru: This year’s Kamabala season of the undivided Dakshina Kannada district concluded successfully with the conduction of Venur Permuda Sooryachandra Jodukere Kambala.

This season’s Kambala started in the month of November. Altogether 18 Kambala were organized at various location in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod districts.

Kambala fans have a satisfaction that even amidst legal challenges, Kambala was successfully organized. In another eight months, he next season of Kambala will begin.

Experiment without using a stick

In the backdrop of the accusation by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal (PETA) that animals were being tortured during the Kambala, buffaloes were run without the use of a stick on an experimental basis during this season of Kambala. The buffaloes run at the Kambalas at Moodbidri, Kakkepadavu and Paivalike were run without the use of a stick. Almost 4 years, such an experiment was conducted at the kambala organized at Katapady. Even a stick covered by sponge was not used since it would make a sound when used on the buffaloes.

Even though the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill was converted into a law with the signature of the president on Feb 10^th last year, the fight against Kambala sport persisted. Because of this, the black clouds still shadow the sport.

The application submitted to the Supreme Court by PETA remains under investigation by the Constitutional Bench.

The traditional sport of buffalo race of Tulu Nadu has been functioning smoothly since two years and we hope that it continues to function this way without any hindrances in future too, said P R Shet, President of District Kambala Committee.