160 pairs of buffaloes expected to participate in the first two-day Bengaluru kambala from November 25

As many as 160 pairs of buffaloes from the coastal belt are expected to participate in the first competitive kambala (slush track buffalo race) to be held at the Palace Grounds in Bengaluru for two days from November 25

As many as 160 pairs of buffaloes from the coastal belt are expected to participate in the first competitive ‘kambala’ (slush track buffalo race) to be held at the Palace Grounds in Bengaluru for two days from November 25.

The pairs will start their journey from Uppinangady in Dakshina Kannada on November 23 at about 9.30 a.m., according to N. Vijayakumar Kanginamane, co-ordinator of the referee wing of Kambala Committee of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod (Kerala) districts.

Mr. Kanginamane, who is also a former general secretary of the committee, told The Hindu that the pairs will be transported in trucks/lorries. The entourage with buffaloes will halt in Hassan for about four hours. The animals will be fed in Hassan and allowed to take some rest. The team will reach Bengaluru at midnight on the same day and the animals will be given rest the next day (on November 24).

Each pair will be accompanied by a team of 15 helpers.

He said that 189 pairs of buffaloes took part in the first kambala of 2023-24 season organised by the committee at Kakkepadavu, near Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada, on November 18. Of them, 100 were junior pairs. Of the 100 junior pairs, 64 pairs were selected to participate in Bengaluru kambala with other senior pairs.

The competition will be held in six categories – naegilu kiriya and hiriya, hagga kiriya and hiriya and adda halage and kane halage.

Mr. Kanginamane said that the running distance in the double slush track will be 125 mts.