The much-anticipated Mysuru Kambala will be held on October 18 and 19 as part of the Mysuru Dasara celebrations. Preparations for the traditional buffalo race are already well underway, and the Kambala track is going to be constructed in Mysuru.
Puttur MLA Ashok Rai, who is in charge of preparing the Kambala event during the Dasara festival, said preparations were in progress as expected. Hundreds of Kambala buffalo pairs will be present, and many thousands of spectators will be present.
Mysuru Kambala Track Ready
According to the information of the organizers, the Kambala track has already been constructed in Mysuru. There are also arrangements made to have around 15,000 people at a time at the venue.
The event is expected to become one of the major attractions of this year's Dasara celebrations, bringing the coastal Karnataka tradition of Kambala to Mysuru.
Organisers also have plans to add some more facilities, which include stalls spread over around five acres of land. Organisers are hoping for a big crowd to come, and this should be an event which, by the end of the day, will see as many as 25 lakh people there to observe Kambala's event going on.
160 Buffalo Pairs Selected
We are arranging to transport around 160 selected buffalo pairs to Mysuru for the event.
Before the main event on October 10, a trial race will be run with five buffalo pairs. This trial will be used to gauge the venue and to make any necessary arrangements before the main event.
The participation of a large number of buffalo pairs will be expected to increase the competition as well as allow spectators to see different types of Kambala races.
Buffaloes to Travel From Puttur
The organisers have also planned a coordinated journey for the Kambala buffaloes travelling from coastal Karnataka to Mysuru.
On October 16 at 10.30 am, the organizers are expected to assemble at the Puttur Mahalingeshwara Temple. From there, the buffaloes will start their journey towards Mysuru.
A two-hour rest stop was planned at Madikeri during the journey. The buffaloes are expected to arrive at Mysuru on the evening of October 16 according to the schedule shared by the organisers.
The arrangements are made to guarantee that animals are provided enough rest during the long journey in order to have sufficient time to compete.
Kambala On October 18
The main Kambala event is to start on the morning of October 18, along with the inauguration ceremony.
A special programme is also planned in the evening. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will attend the evening programme, according to information shared with the event.
The organizers are working on arrangements for spectators, participants and the buffalo teams well ahead of the two-day event.
Prize Money Announced For Buffalo Pairs
The organisers have also announced prize amounts for participating buffalo pairs.
According to the information shared, ₹50,000 will be provided for smaller buffalo pairs and ₹65,000 will be given for larger pairs.
There has also been a request to increase the amount of gold given as part of the prizes. The organisers said the request would be considered.
The prize structure is expected to add more interest to Kambala participants and teams travelling to Mysuru for the event.
Coastal Tradition Meets Mysuru Dasara
Kambala is associated with coastal Karnataka, particularly Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. The traditional sport brought to Mysuru as part of Dasara will provide visitors from other parts of the country with the opportunity to experience the culture.
With the Kambala track set up, buffalo pairs picked, and transportation arrangements prepared, preparations are now moving toward the final stage.
The October 18-19 event will be the focal point of the Mysuru Dasara season, and the event will see thousands of spectators and a large number of teams.
