Preparations are in full swing for the first Kambala event to be held at the Palace Ground in Bengaluru on November 25 and 26. Buffalo owners from the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi will transport 100 to 130 pairs of buffaloes in a procession from Mangaluru. The District Kambala Samiti of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, in association with the Bengaluru Kambala Samiti, will organize the Kambala event. The buffaloes will begin their journey on November 23 in trucks, with arrangements made for their safe transportation including rest stops and provision of drinking water. A team of veterinarians will also be present throughout the journey. The Kambala event will strictly adhere to the guidelines set by the Supreme Court.
A 145-meter-long Kambala track will be created at the Palace Grounds, and all necessary arrangements will be made for the event, which is estimated to cost around Rs 5 – 6 crore. Winning buffalo pairs will be honored with two sovereign gold medals, while runners-up pairs will receive one sovereign gold medal. Medals will also be given to all participating buffalo pairs. The primary objective of organizing Kambala in Bengaluru is to introduce the culture of Tulunadu to the city. The event organizers have requested the government to sanction one-acre land in Bengaluru for the construction of a Tulu Bhavana. Additionally, a demand to set up a Kambala Bhavana at Pilikula in Mangaluru will also be placed before the government.
Various celebrities from Bollywood and South India, as well as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and ministers, have been invited as guests for the event. Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has already received an invitation. The Kambala event is expected to attract a crowd of 7 – 9 lakh spectators. Around 100 food stalls will be set up at the venue, showcasing the delicacies of Tulunadu. Cultural events from Dakshina Kannada will also be presented. The President of the District Kambala Samiti of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, Deviprasad Shetty, stated that a total of 24 Kambala events will be organized in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kasaragod districts during this year’s season.
