Stakeholders of kambala resolve to participate in Mysuru Dasara event
Stakeholders of the kambala buffalo race have decided to participate in the upcoming Mysuru Dasara event despite opposition from local groups. The association also announced the schedule for the 2026-27 season across coastal Karnataka.
Why it matters
The event highlights the tension between traditional cultural practices and modern concerns regarding heritage and animal welfare.
Stakeholders of kambala (slush-track buffalo race) who met at Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada on Sunday decided to participate in the kambala to be organised by the Dasara Utsava Samithi in Mysuru for two days from October 18, 2026.
According to Belapu Deviprasad Shetty, president of the Karnataka State Kambala Association, approximately 125 pairs of buffaloes are expected to participate in the event.
“All stakeholders, including buffalo owners, jockeys, referees, and helpers, agreed to participate in the Mysuru kambala being held for the first time. No one opposed the kambala,” Mr. Shetty told The Hindu.
It may be mentioned that a Joint Action Committee in Mysuru has opposed organising kambala as part of Dasara. The committee comprises the Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha, Dalit Sangharsha Samithi, Parisarakkagi Naavu, Team Mysuru, Kannada organisations and other progressive groups. The committee staged a protest in Mysuru on Saturday.
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