Kambala

Facts for Prelims

Kambala

News: Recently, Bengaluru hosted its first-ever Kambala event. The two-day event at Palace Grounds attracted a large crowd and saw over 160 pairs of buffaloes compete in the race. This event has brought the culture of Kambala to a larger audience.

What is Kambala?
• Kambala, also known as Kambla or Kambula, is an annual buffalo race held in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka. Traditionally, it is sponsored by local Tuluva landlords and households in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi of Karnataka and Kasaragod of Kerala, a region collectively known as Tulu Nadu.
• The Kambala season generally starts in November and lasts until March.
• The Kambala race takes place in a slushy paddy field, and the buffaloes are driven by a whip-lashing farmer. In modern Kambala, the contest generally takes place between two pairs of buffaloes. The winning pair of buffaloes was traditionally rewarded with coconuts and bananas, but today, winning owners earn gold and silver coins.