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9 facts about Kambala you did not know

  • Kambala is an ancient folklore and cultural game of coastal Karnataka since centuries.
  • The farmers don’t use the Kambala bulls for agricultural purposes and special feed and proper training is given to the bulls throughout the year.
9 facts about Kambala you did not know
Author
First Published Jan 25, 2017, 11:37 AM IST

Sudhakara Bhandari, the producer of ‘Rangitaranga’ movie has revealed some unknown facts about Kambala. He said that Kambala cannot be compared with bull fight or Jallikattu. He has also denied allegations that the bulls are ill treated during Kambala.

 

People who nurture bulls for Kambala take care of the animals like their own children. Bhandari also said that some farmers of coastal Karnataka have constructed tombs for the deceased animal and have erected same size idols on their farm lands.

 

Here are some unknown that he reveals about Kambala:  

 

## Kambala is an ancient folklore and cultural game of coastal Karnataka since centuries. Kambala is played between November and March every year, mainly in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod (Kerala)

## Artificial sludge pools are created in parallel in paddy fields after the harvest. Two buffaloes are tied to plough and made to run in a race. This race is called ‘Kambala’.

 

## The farmers don’t use the Kambala bulls for agricultural purposes. They are well fed and proper training is given to them throughout the year. The winning bulls are given banana, tender coconut water and other tasty food. Farmers say it costs ₹ 1.5 lakhs to 2 lakh for them to nurture two bulls.

## There are four types of Kambala: Bare Kambala, Pokare Kambala, Arasu Kambala and Modern Kambala. The first three types are of mainly traditional and ritualistic while the Modern Kambala focuses mainly on the buffalo race.

 

## In the first type, the man holding the rope of bulls also runs the race from behind. But the plough is not tied in this type of Kambala.

## In the second type, the man though holds the rope doesn’t run from behind, rather he ties a plank to the plough and stands on the plank.

 

## In the third type, a plough is tied to both the bulls and the man holding the rope runs from behind.

## The fourth type is called Kane halage race: In this format, reaching the goal is not important. A cloth is tied at two meters height on the both sides of the running track. While running, the sludge should touch and stain the cloth. Prize is given based on the proportion of stains on the cloth.

 

## Mostly, Bunts community of coastal Karnataka nurture the buffalo bulls. They think that nurturing Kambala bulls is a matter of prestige and status. Even today Kambala is a major cultural event in Coastal Karnataka.

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