Mysuru will host traditional buffalo races on Oct. 18 and 19 at 23-acre MDA land in Sathagalli
Mysuru: The wait is finally over for Kambala enthusiasts. The much-awaited Mysuru Dasara Kambala-2026, the traditional buffalo race synonymous with coastal Karnataka, will be held on Oct. 18 and 19 as part of this year’s Nada Habba Dasara celebrations.
The two-day event will be organised on a sprawling 23-acre Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) site at Sathagalli on the Outer Ring Road, near the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) campus.
The announcement was made this morning by Mysuru and Bengaluru Kambala Committee Chairman and Puttur MLA Ashok Rai after inspecting two proposed venues. Besides the Sathagalli site, Rai also visited a location near Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Vijayanagar 1st Stage before finalising the MDA land.
Speaking to reporters, Rai said the venue’s proximity to the Yuva Dasara venue would enable visitors to enjoy both events with ease.
“This year, Kambala has been included in the Mysuru Dasara celebrations as per the directions of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Around 200 pairs of buffaloes from the coastal region will participate in the event along with their owners and family members,” he said.
“The races will be held round-the- clock over two days. Visitors can also savour coastal delicacies and enjoy cultural programmes showcasing the traditions of Karavali and neighbouring regions,” he added.
The participating buffaloes will arrive from Sullia, Moodbidri, Mangaluru, Udupi, Karkala and other parts of Dakshina Kannada a day before the Dasara Kambala event. They will halt at Madikeri en route to Mysuru.
Rai said winners will receive gold as prizes in keeping with Kambala tradition, but declined to reveal the quantity of gold to be awarded.
Responding to questions on water requirements for the event, Ashok Rai said the organisers would dig three to four borewells at the venue to meet operational needs, while buffalo owners would bring water tankers to cater to animals’ drinking water requirements. He added that the soil excavated while preparing the two race tracks would be reused to level and strengthen the tracks, along with sand.
“The Chief Minister has directed us to conduct the event smoothly while ensuring the highest standards of public safety. All arrangements will be made accordingly,” Rai said.
Parking facility: “The 23-acre venue has adequate space to accommodate parking for 3,500 to 4,000 cars besides two-wheelers. The site has sufficient area for erecting stalls and sheds for participating buffaloes.”
DCP (Law and Order) Dr. Harsha Priyamvada, DCP (Crime and Traffic) K.S. Sundar Raj, Department of Kannada and Culture Assistant Director Dr. M.D. Sudarshan, State Kambala Committee Secretary Vijayakumar Kanginamane, Bengaluru Kambala Working President Muralidhar Rai Matanthabettu and other officials were present.
This post was published on June 26, 2026 7:30 pm