A rider runs with buffaloes during the inauguration of Bengaluru Kambala at Palace Ground in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Credit: DH Photo/B K Janardhan
Bengaluru: Kambala races kicked off late on Saturday night as the popular buffalo race from coastal Karnataka made its way to Bengaluru for the very first time.
The first race of the night began at 11:30 pm for the Negilu Kiriya category. Until then, trial races were held, and each buffalo pair and jockey's race timings were noted down to decide the order in which they would race.
Earlier in the evening, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the Bengaluru Kambala and cultural programmes at the Palace Grounds.
“Tulu speakers have a lot of love and pride for their mother tongue, they will speak it no matter where they are. The Kambala committee has asked for Tulu to be considered as an additional state language in Kannada. Our government will make efforts towards making it happen,” he said.
Lauding the arrangements made, he also said that Bengaluru Kambala shouldn't be a one-time event but rather be continued every year. “Kambala is the Karavali (coastal) population’s beloved sport and it is now entertaining Bengalureans as well. Efforts must be taken to preserve it and continue it here in Bengaluru, especially during November-December. It is the responsibility of all fans of the sport to preserve it and help it flourish.”
He also assured efforts would be made to consider the Bengaluru Kambala Samithi’s request for a BDA CA site so they can construct a community hall for their cultural programmes.
The Chief Minister was joined by Kambala Samithi president Ashok Kumar Rai, honorary president Prakash Shetty, Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader, music composer and member of the organising committee, Gurukiran, and others on stage.
Khader, who also spoke at the event, lauded the chief minister’s efforts in ensuring that the high court order’s interim ban on Kambala was not followed by the Supreme Court, which upheld laws to allow the practice of the sport.