Kambala 2021 schedule announced, first race to be held on Jan 30

Team Udayavani, Jan 3, 2021, 9:03 AM IST

Mangaluru: In coastal Karnataka and north Kerala, Kambala is the traditional slush-track buffalo race and is usually held from November to March, however, this year like many other events, the organizers of Kambala too were uncertain about the happening of this event.

After the district administration denied permission to hold Kambala during the night time the District Kambala Committee held a meeting and decided that the event will be held for two days and there will be a break during the night. They also released the schedule for this season.

This season’s first Kambala will be held on January 30 and 31 at Hokkadigoli, informed District Kambala Committee president, PR Shetty.

The Kambala schedule for the year 2021 is as follows:

Hokkadigoli: January-30, 31
Aikala Bawa: February -6, 7
Vamanjur Thiruvailuguttu: February-13, 14
Moodabidri: February-20, 21
Miyyaru: February-27, 28
Bangrakulur: March-6, 7
Venur Permuda: March-20, 21

Kambala involves a jockey driving a pair of buffaloes across a paddy field. The sport has been popular in villages of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Kasargod in Kerala for centuries. It is an annual buffalo mud race conducted by various religious and social organisation in the coastal part of Karnataka. Buffaloes are reared and owned by wealthy landlord who participate in the race for prestige and prize. Buffalo jockeys are farmland workers who take up this job as the agricultural activity is low in this season.