Kambala, a popular buffalo racing contest in the coastal Karnataka region, kicked off for the first time in Bengaluru on Saturday. The two-day folk sport was scheduled to be held in the heart of the city at Palace Grounds on November 25 and 26.

The event has been organized by the Tulukoota Bengaluru and buffalo racing teams from across coastal Karnataka. Around 175 pairs of buffalos will participate in the two-day event, which commenced on November 25.

#WATCH | Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah inaugurates ‘The Buffalo Race- Kambala’ in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/uXBMXvsYLy

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

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“The stage is set for ‘Kambala,’ the buffalo race on a mud track from coastal Karnataka. It is happening for the first time in Bengaluru on November 25 and 26 at the Palace Grounds,” the organizers of the event said on Wednesday.

Along with ‘Kambala,’ the organizers decided to recreate the entire coastal Karnataka ‘culture’ in the state capital during the event.

As per the Kambala committee, more than 150 food stalls, yakshagana (traditional theatre) and many other stalls have been set up at the event to attract people. Yakshagana is a traditional dance-drama art form that originated in the coastal districts of Karnataka, India. The name comes from the words Yaksha (celestial) and Gana (music).

Kambala is derived from ‘kampa-kala’, where the word ‘Kampa’ is related to a slushy, muddy field. The buffaloes are decorated with coloured headpieces made of brass and silver (sometimes bearing the emblems of the sun and moon) and ropes that make a sort of bridle.

CM Siddaramaiah was seen inaugurating the buffalo race that’s happening for the first time in the ‘Silicon City’ of India.

(with inputs from agencies)