Kambala

Kambla as derived from 'kampa-kala ' the word 'Kampa' is related slushy, muddy field. The Dravidian origin of the word Kampa by is kan+pa. And word 'kala' means field, where it happens. In other interpretations of modern Kambala is that 'Kamba', nishane a pole used for water spurt during race by buffalo pairs.[1]

Puttur Koti - Chennaya Kambula

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 Vandaro and Choradi, there is also a ritualistic aspect, as farmers race their buffaloes to give thanks for protecting them from diseases.

Historically, the winning pair of buffaloes was rewarded with coconuts and bananas. Today, winning owners earn gold and silver coins.[5] Some organising committees award an eight-gram gold coin as first prize.[6] In some competitions, cash prizes are awarded.

Traditionally, there were types of Kambalas

1. Pookere Kambala
2. Baare Kambla
3. Kori Kambala
4. Arasu Kambla
5. Devere Kambla[7]
6. Baale Kambala

The kambla influenced by Natha pantha,[8] in earlier days, the Kambla starts previous day evening with tradition dance of Koraga communities mostly by men. They performing full night with following all panchakarma madya (Alcohol), māṃsa (Meat), matsya (Fish), mudrā (Gesture), maithuna (Sexual). The Koragas were sit up through the night before the Kambla day, performing a ceremony called panikkuluni, the meaning of word sitting under the dew. They sing songs to the accompaniment of their special kind of band dudi, 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 called kandēl addyē, or pot pudding.[9]

Kambala has become an organised rural sport, with elaborate planning and scheduling to accommodate competietions at different places.[10] A "Kambala Committee" arranges races in several categories describing the outfitting of the buffaloes. Typical categories are:

• Nāyer(ನಾಯೆರ್): The runner have hold kind of special plough, it is not an actual plough which is heavy and bulky made by wood or iron, it is just a representation that is tied to a pair of buffalo. This type is mostly for the junior buffaloes or entry-level buffaloes. In the competition there are junior and senior rounds in this race.
• Bal (ಹಗ್ಗ: rope), A rope is directly tied to the buffalo pair. And this is for senior buffaloes as the speed is greater here and the participating buffaloes are well experienced. Runner running aside of buffalo holding knots in the rope. This has junior and senior levels.
• Aḍḍa palāyi (ಅಡ್ಡ ಪಲಾಯಿ: cross wooden block),A cross wooden plank is tied to the pair and the runner stands on it while racing. The wooden plank horizontally placed to muddy water, the runner stands on the plank. This is just for the senior category.[11]
• Kaṇe palāyi (ಕಣೆ ಪಲಾಯಿ: round wooden block), a special made round wooden block where the runner stands on it on his single leg. There will special techniques with two holes in the block of wooden, which act like orifice, out of which the water forces out while running. The height of the water forcing out is measured to choose the winner. The more the speed is more the water height is. It would be 6 kolu or 7 Kolu there will a horizontal white cotton flag is installed so the general people judge the winner by eyewitness. Commonly it is called Nishaneg Neer Padune and this is only for senior most category.[12]

Kambala draws large rural crowds, as it has done for the last three hundred years.[13] 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.[14]

Kadri Kambala used to be held at Kadri, Mangalore and it is called Dēvere Kambla (God's Kambala) as it is associated with Sri Manjunatha Temple in that city.[10] This event was patronised by the Alupa kings of Mangalore, 300 years ago. For this reason, Kadri Kambala is also known as Arasu Kambala (King's Kambala).[10]

Animal lovers have criticised Kambala as cruel to the racing buffaloes, which are driven by whips.[15] Noted animal-rights activist Maneka Gandhi expressed concerns about the ill treatment of buffaloes during the race. 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.[15]

In 2014, based on lawsuits filed by animal welfare organizations, the Supreme Court of India ordered a ban on Kambala. The ban also covered Jallikattu, a sport of hands-on bull taming. A government order lifted the ban on Jallikattu in January 2017, 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 in Karnataka.[18] President 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 President Ram Nath Kovind approved on 19 February 2018.[19]

• Pacu jawi, a similar type of race held in Tanah Datar, West Sumatra, Indonesia.
• Flying duck race (pacu itiak) in Payakumbuh, another area in West Sumatra
• Karapan sapi, chariot-style bull racing from Madura, Indonesia

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kambala.

• Kambala
• Specialities -> Kambala
• More about Kambala
• A photo documentary on Kambala
• Modbidri Kambala