Hold discussions with stakeholders before organising Kambala in Mysuru, says MLA Sunil Kumar
MLA V. Sunil Kumar has urged the Karnataka government to consult with local stakeholders before organizing the Kambala buffalo race during the Mysuru Dasara festival. He argues that the government should prioritize funding for existing coastal Kambala events before spending heavily on a new, large-scale event in Mysuru.
Why it matters
The request highlights tensions between preserving regional cultural traditions and the government's efforts to promote tourism through state-sponsored cultural events.
Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar on Thursday urged the State government to hold discussions with stakeholders, particularly Kambala organisers and owners of buffalo bulls, before deciding to organise Kambala during the Dasara celebrations in Mysuru.
In a statement, Mr. Kumar said he had learnt that the government would spend close to ₹8 crore to hold Mysuru Kambala, while the present government has been providing a mere ₹2.5 lakh for each Kambala organised annually in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
The government should first announce financial assistance of ₹25 lakh for each of the 20 Kambalas organised in the coastal districts before organising Mysuru Kambala. Then, the glory of the event would be enhanced. The government should create an environment with local participation so that people from across the State could witness Kambala on the coast, he said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in