Buffaloes to race on 147-metre-long twin tracks; trial run on Oct. 15

Mysuru: The 147-metre-long buffalo race tracks that will host Dasara Kambala for the first time have been named ‘Vijaya-Dashami’, signifying Vijayadashami, the “tenth day of victory” in Sanskrit. The name combines ‘Vijaya’ (victory) and ‘Dashami’ (tenth day).

The track will have buffaloes competing in races covering 140 metres. A trial run with five pairs of buffaloes has been scheduled on Oct. 15 to test the arrangements at the 20-acre Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) land at Sathagalli, near the VTU Regional Centre, which has been handed over to the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports.

The decision to organise the coastal folk sport during Dasara has been welcomed by the State Kambala Committee, with the grand Kambala event scheduled for Oct. 18 and 19.

Officials from coastal Kambala Committees and buffalo owners held consultations with the Mysuru District Administration, following which an official invitation was extended.

Around 150-160 selected and well-trained buffalo pairs from Puttur, Dakshina Kannada and Karkala will participate, according to Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai, who is also the President of the State Kambala Committee.

Travel plans

On Oct. 16 at 10.30 am, all the buffaloes will be assembled at Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple in Puttur and transported together to Mysuru.

After reaching Madikeri, they will be given mandatory rest for 2 to 3 hours, with fodder and water arrangements. The buffaloes are expected to reach Mysuru by 9 pm the same day and will be given complete rest on Oct. 17.

The Kambala will be inaugurated on the morning of Oct. 18, with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar attending the evening ceremony. The event will conclude by midnight on Oct. 19 with the distribution of prizes.

Transit cost, gold prizes

Only senior, well-timed buffalo pairs are being selected by a Sub-Committee. The Government has fixed transport allowances of Rs. 65,000 for senior pairs and Rs. 50,000 for junior pairs.

In the senior category, the first prize will be 16 grams of gold and the second prize 8 grams of gold. Buffalo owners have demanded that the third and fourth place winners also be given gold medals and that the prize amounts in the junior category be increased.

Ashok Kumar Rai said the demands would be discussed with the Mysuru Deputy Commissioner and that a positive decision would be taken. All participating buffalo owners will be honoured with a Dasara certificate, souvenir, Mysuru turban (peta) and shawl.