150 pairs of elite Class-1 buffaloes to travel in AC trucks

Mysuru: Over 150 pairs of elite Class-1 buffaloes are expected to take part in the 48-hour Dasara Kambala races to be held on Oct. 18 and 19 at the venue on Outer Ring Road near the VTU Regional Centre in Sathagalli, Mysuru.

A convoy of around 150 vehicles, most of them air-conditioned, will leave Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple in Puttur after traditional pujas on Oct. 17 to transport the prized buffaloes.

The convoy is expected to reach Kushalnagar in Kodagu by noon and arrive in Mysuru by night. The races will begin at 9 am on Oct. 18, followed by the inauguration ceremony at 11 am, which Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is likely to attend.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, State Kambala Committee President Deviprasad Shetty said 160 to 170 teams from across Dakshina Kannada, including Karkala and Moodbidri, had registered online for the event. However, the Mysuru District Administration has capped participation at 150 pairs.

4,500 support staff

Most of the participating buffaloes fall under the Class-1 category, with several leading teams from the 2025 season among the participants. Some of them are beginners also. Each team will have a support crew of 30 members, with 30 passes issued per team. This means around 4,500 support personnel are expected to accompany the participants.

The convoy will also feature cultural troupes, including coastal drum ensembles and traditional Hulivesha (tiger dance) performers.

Strict registration protocols require details such as photographs of the buffaloes and their owners, ownership records, veterinary fitness certificates, vaccination records and digital tags. Owners must produce relevant documents at the venue even if some details have not been uploaded online. Veterinary fitness certificates are mandatory.

Depending on the category, each race lasts between three and 15 minutes. With 150 pairs competing, the races are expected to continue through the two days, with just a minute’s gap between bouts.

Stopover at Kushalnagar

Arrangements are being made, under the leadership of Madikeri MLA Dr. Manthar Gowda, at 20-acre Gundurao Layout Jathre Maidan in Kushalnagar to welcome the buffalo convoy from Puttur and provide a stopover for the animals and their accompanying teams. Arrangements are in place for rest, fodder and meals for accompanying visitors.

With nearly 3,000 people expected to travel with the convoy, arrangements are also being made by the Kushalnagar Town Municipal Council to serve meals to visitors from Kushalnagar and neighbouring areas who gather to witness the spectacle. A stage programme will welcome the buffaloes and bid farewell to the convoy.

I am 47 years old. Coming to Mysuru to race our buffaloes is more than just a competition for us. It is a blessing. When our buffaloes step onto the track and race for the first time, it feels like a divine gift. That is the greatest fulfilment of our lives. Whether it is after 10 years or 100 years, if anyone asks who released the first buffalo on that track in Mysuru, I can truthfully and proudly say it was me.  Even after I am gone and return to the soil, if people remember that my buffaloes once raced in Dasara, I will feel that my name has found a place in history and I am indebted to State Kambala Committee President Deviprasad Shetty.”

— Muchur Kalkude Kushala Lokesh Shetty, buffalo owner, participating in Mysuru Dasara Kambala