150 buffalo pairs race as Kambala makes its Mysuru Dasara debut

Kambala made its debut on Sunday as part of the Mysuru Dasara celebrations. The two-day buffalo race will continue till Monday evening. | Photo credit: MA Sriram

Coastal Karnataka’s traditional sport of Kambala made its Mysuru Dasara debut on Sunday when Urban Development Minister and Mysuru District In-Charge Yathindra Siddaramaiah concluded the two-day buffalo race at Sathagalli.

Organized by the Dasara Kambala sub-committee at the sprawling grounds near the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) College, the event features 150 pairs of buffaloes and is being held for the first time as part of the Dasara celebrations.

Dr. Wrapping up the event, Yathindra said that Kambala, a popular traditional rural sport in the coastal region, should not remain confined to its place of origin. The aim of launching it in Mysuru Dasara was to give the sport wider recognition and allow people across the country and beyond to see it, he said.

He said elaborate arrangements have been made for the event, including nutritious fodder and veterinary care for the buffaloes. It costs around ₹5,000 to transport a pair of buffaloes to Mysuru, he said, adding that the organizers have also decided to make the event plastic-free and put in place security and other facilities.

Puttur MLA Ashok Rai thanked those involved in organizing Kambala as part of Dasara and thanked Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for extending support to the initiative. He said the sport has gained a lot of popularity across Karnataka and has attracted an estimated 30 to 40 million viewers.

Acknowledging the opposition to holding Kambala in Mysuru at a time of prevailing drought concerns, Mr Rai said the sport was largely supported by the farming community and was not driven by big prize money or commercial gains.

“Kambala enthusiasts are not necessarily rich. The financial reward is modest, while transporting buffaloes over long distances requires considerable expense. They breed and care for the animals as if they were their own children,” he said.

He said the event was successfully organized in collaboration with the district office and urged people to participate with their families. The organizers wanted Kambala to gain visibility across the state and internationally, he added.

Welcoming the participation of people from the coastal region, Chamundeshwari MLA GT Deve Gowda said that the traditional sport of Tulu Nadu is being held in Mysuru for the first time as part of the Dasara celebrations. He called on the public to extend their cooperation to ensure the success of the event.

MLC K. Shivakumar, Chairman Zoo Authority of Karnataka K. Ranganathswamy, State Association President Kambala Devi Prasad Shetty, Chandrahass Sadhu Sunil, Dr. Rakshith Raj, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikantha Reddy and others.

Published – 18 Oct 2026 18:22 IST