Bengaluru gears up to hold first Kambala

Mangaluru: If everything goes smoothly as planned, Bengaluru will host the first

kambala

very soon.

Kambala patrons, in association with various stakeholders and sponsors, have been taking initiatives to hold coastal Karnataka’s own traditional sporting event in the

outskirts

of Bengaluru. While suitable land has been identified, preparations are on to create kambala tracks through experts from the coast. Plans are afoot to conduct the first kambala near

Dodda Aalada Mara

, a tourist spot located in

Kethohalli

in Bengaluru.

Prof

K Gunapala Kadamba

, president,

Kambala Academy

, and founder secretary of Dakshina Kannada Kambala Committee, told TOI that there are plans to hold a kambala event in Hassan district too.

“We have already identified suitable land that belongs to Upendra Shetty, president, Bengaluru Bunts Association, near Dodda Alada Mara. An expert who has knowledge of preparing kambala tracks from the coastal district, has already seen the identified land. Since there are legal complications, we are not in a hurry to hold kambala during this season in Bengaluru,” he said, adding that the event will be held in Bengaluru after the end of the kambala season in coastal Karnataka.

In fact, the idea of holding an event in Bengaluru was mooted when a protest was held demanding legal status for kambala at the Freedom Park in 2017, he said.

Recently, the Supreme Court had sought a response from the Karnataka government on a plea questioning the validity of a state law that allows kambala. A Supreme Court bench also has referred the matter to a five-judge Constitution bench. While kambala events in coastal districts witness participation of more than 100 pairs of buffaloes, the number will be lesser in Bengaluru, since it involves a huge cost, he added.

Meanwhile, plans are on the anvil to conduct an event in Hassan district too, he said. “We have plans to hold a kambala event near the backwaters of Gorur Dam in Hassan district in association with Akhila Karnataka Grameena Kalegala Okkoota. We will not be able to hold kambala outside the coastal district this season. Hence, it may be held any time after the kamabla season that ends in March,” he added.