The grand Mysuru Dasara celebrations will have a distinctly coastal flavour this year with Kambala being organised as part of the festival. The traditional buffalo racing event will be held in Mysuru on October 18 and 19, bringing a sport closely associated with coastal Karnataka to the city.
Preparations have already gathered pace along the coast, while the Mysuru district administration has formally invited the Kambala organisers. The event is expected to attract a large audience, with arrangements being made to accommodate thousands of spectators.
A 20 acre area has been prepared for the event, including a Kambala track measuring about 147 metres in length. Organisers are expecting around 160 pairs of buffaloes to participate. Registration has reportedly been completed by visiting the homes of the owners taking part in the competition.
Before the main event begins, a trial run has been planned at the Kambala track on October 10. Five pairs of buffaloes are expected to take part in the trial, giving organisers an opportunity to check the arrangements and track conditions before the main races.
The buffaloes participating in the event will travel from the coastal region to Mysuru on October 16. The journey is scheduled to begin from Mangaluru at around 10 am. A break of approximately three hours has been planned in Madikeri before the journey continues towards Mysuru.
The buffaloes are expected to reach Mysuru on the night of October 16. The animals will then be given a full day of rest on October 17 before the Kambala competitions begin the following day.
The main event will run for 48 hours across October 18 and 19. The closing day will include the distribution of prizes to the winners.
The event site will also have separate arrangements for different categories of visitors. Three platforms are being prepared for the general public, VIP guests and VVIP guests. Organisers are expecting around 15,000 people to have viewing facilities at the Kambala venue.
The prizes are another major attraction of the competition. In the large buffalo category, the first prize will carry Rs 65,000, while the first prize in the small buffalo category will be Rs 50,000. Winners will also receive a Mysuru Dasara award plaque.
Gold prizes have been planned for the senior category. The first prize will include 16 grams of gold, while the second prize will carry 8 grams. The third and fourth prizes will include one pavan of gold each.
The junior category will also have gold prizes. The winner will receive 8 grams of gold, while the second place winner will receive 5 grams.
Spectators will be able to watch the Kambala event without paying an entry fee. Organisers are also arranging VIP and VVIP passes for invited guests. A special arrangement will allow visitors to take photographs with the participating buffaloes.
Attention is also being given to the welfare and basic requirements of the animals taking part. Water arrangements are being made at the venue, while the travel schedule has been planned with a rest period before the competition begins.
Along with Kambala, visitors will get an opportunity to experience coastal Karnataka cuisine. A coastal food festival is also being planned as part of the celebrations, bringing traditional food and flavours from the coastal region to Mysuru.
Organisers expect the wider event to attract a very large number of visitors, with estimates suggesting that around 25 lakh people could visit during the celebrations. The combination of Dasara festivities, Kambala and the coastal food festival is expected to add another attraction to the annual event.
The decision to include Kambala in Mysuru Dasara has generated both support and opposition, making the event a topic of discussion even before the races begin. For supporters, it provides an opportunity to showcase a traditional sport associated with coastal Karnataka to a wider audience.
For Mysuru, the event also represents a new addition to the festival programme. Kambala has traditionally been associated with the coastal districts, where buffalo racing is deeply connected with local culture and community celebrations.
With the track ready, registrations completed and the travel arrangements being prepared, organisers are now focusing on the final stages of preparation. The October 18 and 19 races will bring the coastal sporting tradition into the heart of Mysuru Dasara.
The event is expected to combine sport, culture, food and public entertainment, giving visitors another reason to attend the Dasara celebrations. As preparations continue in both coastal Karnataka and Mysuru, attention is now turning towards the arrival of the buffaloes and the start of the much anticipated races.
