Slushy tracks echo with whistles, cheers as buffalo pairs charge forward
Mysuru: For the first time in Mysuru Dasara’s history, Kambala, the traditional buffalo race of coastal Karnataka, was held as part of the festivities this year.
Organised by the Dasara Kambala Sub-Committee at the Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) Grounds near VTU Regional Centre on the Outer Ring Road at Sathagalli, the event was inaugurated by District in-Charge Minister Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who flagged off the races on the two tracks, ‘Vijaya Kare’ and ‘Dashami Kare.’
Thousands of people thronged the venue to witness the spectacle. Each pair of buffaloes was accompanied by 10 to 15 handlers, who sprinted alongside the animals and restrained them at the finish line.
The muddy track echoed with whistles, cheers and applause as the buffaloes charged forward, while photographers and videographers scrambled to capture the action amid the excitement.
The opening day featured league-stage races, drawing loud cheers from the crowd as the coastal sport became part of Mysuru’s Dasara celebrations. Organisers said, the event was being conducted as a ‘plastic-free Kambala,’ with Police security and arrangements to ensure the animals were handled safely.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah said, “Kambala should not remain confined to one region. By bringing it to Mysuru Dasara, we want to showcase it to the entire State and even the world.” He said, transporting a pair of buffaloes cost nearly Rs. 5 lakh and praised the farmers for raising the animals like children.
Puttur MLA Ashok Rai said, 30 to 40 lakh people across Karnataka watched Kambala every year. Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda described the event as a cultural bridge between Tulu Nadu and Mysuru.
MLC K. Shivakumar, Zoo Authority of Karnataka Chairman K. Rangaswamy, State Kambala Association President Devi Prasad Shetty, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, SP Mallikarjun Baladandi, MCC Commissioner M.K. Savitha and Kambala Sub-Committee Special Officer S. Ukesh Kumar were present.
This post was published on October 18, 2026 7:30 pm