KAMBALA – A FORGOTTEN SPORT OF YESTER YEARS…..


Prof P. Archibald Furtado
Kemmannu News Network, 26-09-2024 19:33:48


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KAMBALA – A FORGOTTEN SPORT OF YESTER YEARS…..

During the time the mass entertainment was in scarcity, about half century back, full night Yakshagana, weekly Santhe, in winter Buffalo race called Kambala, in summer annual Rathotsava etc were the occasions people used to gather in large number.

(File Pic)

We had a Kannada lesson in Class VI, Kambala and illustrious Chooda Poojary was the teacher instilled passionate likes for this sport, at that teenage. Most of us belong to agricultural families where every household has a pair of buffalos, a wooden boat, some had even bullock cart... in those years.

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Now, all these things disappeared with the passage of time – Barkur a place which roughly had around 400 pairs of buffalos, now zero…at least I have not seen them ploughing the land holdings. Once the busy season gets over in our places from November till February the buffalo pairs were getting ready for a sport known as Kambala. Yedthadi, Vandar, Handadi, Manur were well known in those days. Understand that once upon a time there was as many as three or four Kambala Gadde locally in Barkur alone – Hanehalli, Hosala, Halekody, Sankadi etc. and some zamindars and aristocratic families used to host and organise these events… The conditions somewhat similar in whole of Coastal Districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada.

(File Pic)

Now coming to Kambala:
In brief, Kambala is a traditional buffalo racing event held in coastal Karnataka, particularly popular in the districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. This age-old festival typically occurs during the winter months, often coinciding with the harvest season.

The event features pairs of buffaloes racing through muddy tracks, with participants using whips to guide their animals. Kambala is not just a sporting event; it also reflects the rich cultural heritage of the region, showcasing local music, dance, and community spirit. It draws large crowds, fostering a sense of camaraderie among participants and spectators alike.

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Kambala has gained recognition beyond the local community, leading to discussions about animal welfare and the need for regulation. However, it remains a cherished tradition for many in the area. Very recently Kambala was organised in Bangalore too.

Why Mr Shantharama Shetty’s role significant?

As most of our traditional sports disappeared and younger generations have no clue of such events, it needs to be reactivated and brought to limelight with some modern attractions and exactly that Mr Shetty has done is to revive Kambala in our surroundings.

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The Karnataka State Govt deservedly honoured him with prestigious ‘Karnataka Rajyotsava Award’ for his dedicated service to the Kambala.
He has developed a track for Training Buffaloes for Kambala with required facilities as the video describes, needs appreciation for his innovative experiment.

(File Pic)

This provides basic handling and familiarizing buffaloes with human interaction and handling. Conditioning them building strength and endurance through controlled exercise and practice runs in muddy conditions, also includes speed training, probably gradual introduction to racing scenarios, allowing buffaloes to acclimate to the competitive environment.

It is teamwork, training pairs to work in harmony, focusing on synchronizing movements. In short this yard familiarise training processes emphasize patience, consistency, and understanding of the animals’ behaviour to achieve optimal performance.

(File Pic)

Though, for elderly the modern concept may not be easily digestive – bringing pair of Buffalos in trucks, rearing and keeping them only for Kambala purpose, investing lot of money for their care, food and fitness in comparison as the pair of buffalos once an integral part of farming community of yester years – primarily utilised to plough the small and fragmented land holdings to various sizes, the fields utilising organic manure always proved to be healthy one, in those days of ecological or biological farming. Now agricultural lands in our places are left barren and unattended by land owners. There are inevitable reasons to abandon them – no local manual workforce, migrated one’s have no smell of local soil, and high cost, returns un predicted, erratic monsoon and no parallel irrigation system, damages caused by animals and birds are just few to mention.

(File Pic)

Awareness of healthy organic food:
It is said, something is better than nothing. There are some eco-friendly youth showing interest in cultivation by pooling land holdings. It’s a welcome move; at least fields are kept clean than becoming dumping yard filled with bottles and plastic waste.  People have to come forward for cooperative farming, ensuring the owners that their pieces of land will legally remain as their property.

(File Pic)

Modern Kambala Sports:
Most of our rich traditions , way of life, staple food, cultural activities etc  slowly disappearing from the society and the instruments, local agricultural tools, once part of or daily life in villages either thrown away from concrete houses or property in Museums. There is cultural renaissance and religious awakening in certain communities.

Kambala too now revived but with modern touch. Same pairs of buffalos take part in various locations and win prizes but here people get an opportunity to watch the forgotten competition.  Encouragement and patronising only Kambala as a sport probably continue but re-utilising them in paddy fields probably over.

(File Pic)

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[Barkur Shantharam Shetty’s Kambala Training School Special Story in DD Chandana]

Comments on this Article
Damodar Samani, Thonse Sun, October-20-2024, 6:16
Thanks for the article and pictures from Thonse Kambala though no mention of event.
Agree[1]
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