‘Kambala is our livelihood, buffaloes are our children’

 

Currently, the Court’s verdict on ban on Kambala or the buffalo race conducted in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka is due on Monday. With ordinance coming to an effect, allowing Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, fight to lift the ban on Kambala too has gained prominence in Karnataka. Thousands of Kambala supporters with their buffaloes gathered near Moodubidre to stage protest against the ban on Kambala on Saturday.

 

Jallikattu was banned citing animal cruelty as people tend to attack the bull, pull its tail, hang on to the horns of the animal. But Kambala is only a race, where a pair of buffalo runs on the farm field accompanied by a rider, who runs along with the buffaloes.  

 

The animal rights activists had cited that Kambala too includes whipping of the animal, which amounts to cruelty. But like Seetharam Shetty, there are lakhs of people supporting Kambala, who clearly rubbish the argument that buffaloes are harmed. Here is what the people attached to Kambala and their buffaloes from their childhood have to say.

 

Also Read: This is why ban on Kambala should be lifted, reasons Rangitaranga producer Sudhakara Bhandari

 

“We have a bonding with our buffaloes. We treat them just like a child. They are our precious asset. For most families in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada district, buffaloes are the main means of livelihood. Unlike the notion that all buffaloes are reared for Kambala, our buffaloes have grown with our children and they are an inevitable part of farming,” said Shetty.

 

Speaking further, he also said that the geography of both the districts is such that only buffaloes can successfully plough the land, which is the main occupation of the buffalo. Earlier, mostly only paddy was grown in the coastal areas and there was no agricultural work for at least three months in a year.

 

“It is this time of the year, Kambala is organised. The buffaloes who are used to the field are decorated and the event is held for 15 days in a year. It is held at various places throughout Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. There are mainly two types of Kambala-one is held with the religious belief and the other held on modern terms. It has a history of 700 and odd years,” he added.

 

Also Read: 9 facts about Kambala you did not know

 

Kambala is not just a sport, where animals are forced to run. Their owner-caretaker is always with them, the event is witnessed by the at least 10 villages. Even the buffaloes find their friends on the field. First of all Kambala is held in the farm field, to which buffaloes are accustomed to. They are even accustomed to most of the people gathered there, he said.

 

According to Seetharam Shetty, most buffaloes are not trained specially for the event. Of course, with advent of modern machinery, those who can afford use tractors and tillers and have buffaloes only for the Kambala. They even set aside seven acres of land to conduct Kambala.

 

Those who can afford appoint care-takers for the buffaloes. In fact, buffalo it has its own swimming pool. It is given oil massage and mild-hot water bath. There is special food too. This all to give the buffalo the strength and stamina, said buffalo rider Natheesh.

 

Video: Protests for Jallikattu, now postcards for Kambala

 

But most of the buffaloes taking part in Kambala are not trained for it. But they are reared like a family and are given plenty of horsegram-which is its basic food. Every buffalo gets oil massage once-in-a-while. The ploughing activity is the muscle building exercise for the buffalo. Apart from that it is not made to run every day as practice.

 

Though people tend to term kambala as an event of prestige, it is considered as the village fair. It serves a commercial purpose too, says Nithin of Hirebettu, who owns Kambala buffaloes and is an ardent supporter of Kambala. Many people put up stalls during Kambala events. In the 15 to 18 days the event is held in a year, they earn much more than what they can make otherwise. With people from at least 10 villages taking part in one Kambala, it is a grand event.

 

Actually, one pair of buffalo used in the agriculture including rearing of buffalo, ploughing and taking part in Kambala gives employment to at least eight families. Thus thousands of families are dependent on the buffaloes for their livelihood. Now as many are opting for tractor and tiller for agricultural purpose, buffaloes are being reared for Kambala. With a ban on Kambala-like events, soon we might have to go to zoos to see the buffaloes. It is not just a sport, buffaloes are very much part of everybody’s life in the coastal areas, added Nithin.

 

Nithin also said that the Karnataka government had sent representatives from Dharwad University to find the truth about buffaloes being harassed in Kambala. Even the delegates after witnessing the Kambala matches had given a clean chit to the sport and had concluded that there was no harassment involved.

 

Giving a clear idea what happens during the game, Nithin said, the usual running field is a minimum 170 metres long and some fields are above 200 metres. Whenever there is Kambala, the organisers make it sure to have a veterinary doctor (according to rules), water to drink and ample place to rest for the buffalo.

 

The riders said that one game is held for a maximum of 15 seconds. Adding to the information, Seetharam Shetty said that the buffalo gets at least three hours rest between each race. As of now, what happens cannot even be called as whipping. But if that is the main issue, we can do away with that but we want our Kambala back, he says.   

 

Speaking about PETA’s reasons for ban, Deepak Kumar, an ardent fan and follower of Kambala events said that there is no harassment to buffaloes. “PETA says that applying vermillion leads to allergies. This is not true. Even we apply it on our foreheads. There are also allegations that just before the race, chilli powder is thrown into buffaloes eyes. This is so wrong. Buffaloes are like our family, why would we do that. So, both the allegations are baseless,” he says.

 

“In fact, Kambala is an event which has people from all walks of life, irrespective of their caste, religion or language, taking part in the gala event. Even people from Jain community conduct Kambala, Muslims too bring their buffaloes for Kambala, Deepak said.
 

Deepak says, there is a committee which has set rules for the game. Accordingly the buffaloes cannot be harmed. During the game it is hit (a mildly-just to give it a cue to start running) and the next one when it almost reaches the finishing line. The buffaloes are not whipped, he says. If any rider or owner violates the rules, they are disqualified from playing Kambala. The committee members make sure that Kambala rules are strictly followed.

 

Speaking to Asianet Newsable, the buffalo riders Mala Jaggu, K Nathish, K Seenu Aithappa and Nithin said that the ban on Kambala should be lifted. It is our folk culture, we have grown hearing about it and now, we are a part of it. It is very much part of not only our culture but our lives. We love our buffaloes and there is no way we are going to hurt them, they echoed each other’s opinion.