Trial run of Kambala passes off smoothly in Mysuru

A trial run of Kambala with two pairs of buffaloes held at a specially created slush track at Sathgalli on the outskirts of Mysuru passed off smoothly on Thursday.

Puttur MLA Ashok Rai, who also heads the Kambala Organising Committee, appreciated the track prepared for Kambala in Mysuru and said a total of 150 pairs of buffaloes had been selected to participate in the two-day event scheduled for October 18 and 19.

“It will be a day and night affair with races being held on Sunday as well as Monday,” Mr. Rai said, adding that entry for Kambala will be free.

“There is no entry fee or pass to watch Kambala,” he said while asking people to come and watch the slush track buffalo race with their friends and families.

“People who stay nearby can come and watch at night also,” Mr. Rai said.

The 150 pairs of buffaloes that had been selected to participate in the event will depart from Mahalingeshwara Temple on Saturday morning. After a three-hour-long break in Kushalnagar, where they will be offered food and rest, the buffaloes will resume their journey and reach Mysuru around 8 p.m., Mr. Rai said.

The district administration had made all arrangements for the owners of the buffaloes and others accompanying them. 

Though owners of 100 more pairs of buffaloes had evinced interest in participating in Kambala in Mysuru, the organisers will not be able to accommodate their request as the government had limited the number to 150 pairs of buffaloes.

While the winner of the Kambala event will receive a prize of 16 grams of gold, the runner-up will be given 8 grams of gold. The participants will receive a certificate of participation, he said.

The Mysuru district administration had extended an invitation to film actor and director Rishab Shetty. However, there is no information about Mr. Shetty’s confirmation on participating in the event, Mr. Rai said.

Meanwhile, Minister in-charge of Mysuru district Yathindra Siddaramaiah is scheduled to inaugurate Kambala at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Kambala races are expected to continue to 8 p.m. on Monday, Mr. Rai said.