TheKambala,Kambla orKambula is an annualbuffalo race held in the southwestern Indian state ofKarnataka. It is similar toMaramadi ofKerala. Traditionally, it is sponsored by localTuluva landlords and households in the coastal districts ofDakshina Kannada,Udupi andBhatkal of Karnataka andKasaragod ofKerala, a region collectively known asTulu Nadu.
The Kambala season generally starts in November and lasts until March. The Kambalas are organised through Kambala samithis (Kambala associations). Over 45 races are held annually in coastal Karnataka.
Kambala is derived from 'kampa-kala', where the word 'Kampa' relates to a slushy, muddy field. TheDravidian origin of the word Kampa is kan+pa and 'kala' means field, where it is conducted. Another interpretation of modern Kambala is derived from 'Kamba', a pole used for water spurt during race by buffalo pairs.[1]
Kambala is a sport.[2] The Kambala racetrack is a slushy paddy field,[3] and the buffaloes are driven by a whip-lashing farmer.[4]
Traditional Kambala was non-competitive, and the pair was run one by one. In modern Kambala, the contest generally takes place between two pairs of buffaloes. In villages such as Vandar (Vandaru) in Udupi and Chordi (Choradi) in Shivamogga, there is also a ritualistic aspect, as farmers race their buffaloes to give thanks to the deities for protecting them from diseases.
Historically, the winning pair of buffaloes was rewarded with coconuts and bananas. Today, owners of the winning beasts win gold and silver coins.[5] Some organising committees award an eight-gram gold coin to the winner.[6] In some competitions, cash prizes are awarded.
The buffaloes are decorated with coloured jhūls and head-pieces made of brass and silver (sometimes bearing the emblems of the sun and moon), and ropes which make a sort of bridle. The special towel used to cover the buffaloes' back is called thepaavade (Tulu:ಪಾವಡೆ).
The Kambla was influenced byNatha pantha,[7] in earlier days. It starts the day before, with traditional dance ofKoraga communities - mostly by men. They perform the entire night with thePanchamakara - madya (Alcohol), māṃsa (Meat), matsya (Fish), mudrā (Gesture), and maithuna (Sexual). The Koragas then perform a ceremony calledpanikkuluni, the meaning of word sitting under thedew. They sing songs to the accompaniment of their special kind of banddudi, about their special spirit daiva Nīcha, and offer toddy and a rice-pudding boiled in a large earthen pot, which is broken so that the pudding remains as a solid mass. This pudding is calledkandēl addyē, or pot pudding.[8]
Kambala has become an organised rural sport, with elaborate planning and scheduling to accommodate competitions at different places.[9] A "Kambala Committee" arranges races in several categories describing the outfitting of the buffaloes. Typical categories are:
Kambala draws large rural crowds, as it has done for the last three hundred years.[12] People bet on the buffaloes, and one can witness more than 20,000 spectators in a well-organised Kambala, egging on and cheering the buffaloes to complete the race.
In some places, night races are arranged under floodlights.[6]
The buffaloes developed for the race are carefully fed and some owners have even built separate swimming pools for competing buffaloes.[13]
Thonnase Kambala used to be held in the month of December every year at Thonnase, Hebri taluk, Udupi district and it is calledDēvara Sampradayika Kambala as it is associated with Sri Dhoomavathi, Sri Gopalakrishna and Swami Parivara in the village.
Kadri Kambala used to be held at Kadri, Mangalore and it is calledDēvere Kambla (God's Kambala) as it is associated with Sri Manjunatha Temple in that city.[9] This event was patronised by theAlupa kings of Mangalore, 300 years ago. For this reason, Kadri Kambala is also known asArasu Kambala (King's Kambala).[9]
Many have criticised Kambala as cruel to the racing buffaloes, which are driven by whips.[14] Noted animal-rights activistManeka Gandhi expressed concerns about the ill treatment of buffaloes during the race. While Kambala organizers contend that whips are necessary to elicit maximum speed, government officials advise the riders to be gentle on buffaloes and avoid using whips during the race.[14]
In 2014, based on lawsuits filed by animal welfare organizations, the Supreme Court of India ordered a ban on Kambala. The ban also coveredJallikattu, a sport of hands-on bull taming. A government order lifted the ban on Jallikattu in January 2017,[15] and the public asked for the ban on Kambala to be lifted, too.[16]
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance, 2017[17] re-legalized the Kambala festival inKarnataka.[18] Then-President of India,Pranab Mukherjee, promulgated the new law on 3 July 2017. Litigation continued but was resolved by the passage of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2018, which then-PresidentRam Nath Kovind approved on 19 February 2018.[19]
However, after the relegalization, it was found that the buffaloes were still being whipped during the race.[20]
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