Kambala festival 2022 – 2023 is a traditional buffalo race (sport event) loved and played by locals among the farmers community and many runners (like Sriniviasa Gowda) participate. Kambala buffalo race is celebrated annually at many places of Karnataka state and Kerala, region called Tulu Nadu.
What is the Kambala festival buffalo race 2022 ?
Kambala festival is an action packed traditional buffalo race (sport event) loved and played by locals with much enthusiasm by farmers community of the state. The Kambala buffalo race is organized by Associations and held at many places like Udupi, Mangalore in Dakshina Kannada of Karnataka state and few places of Kerala state.
The Kambala festival season starts in late November and ends in March or early April.
How is the Kambala festival celebrated ?
The Kambala festival buffalo race is played in a muddy paddy field on two parallel tracks filled with mud and water. Each pair of buffaloes have a runner (or jockey) to control and command the buffaloes on the track. These buffaloes are held together with plough & ropes and run in a pair.
This Kambala buffalo race is not just a sports event there are many big prizes given to winners. So Kannada people take it very seriously and play like professionals. The major attraction of this Kambala festival for tourists and locals is buffalo race.
Kambala festival Buffalo Race Categories :
The Kambala festival buffalo races take place using many categories like Negilu, Hagga, Adda Halage and Kene Halage.
- Negilu : This category is for buffaloes which have no experience of racing, in which junior and senior rounds are held, farmers control the pair of buffaloes with plough.
- Hagga : In this experience buffalo take part and both the buffaloes are directly tied with rope, in this also junior and senior rounds are held.
- Adda Halage : In this farmers or runners stand on a wooden plank placed on buffaloes.
- Kane / Kene Halage : is the toughest category of Kambala buffalo race, in which men stand on a round shaped wooden block while racing and this wooden block has two holes from which water gushes out while running.
Note : Men / runners stand on a wooden plank during buffalo races called Halage.
Kambala Buffalo Race schedule, event Dates 2022 – 2023
Kambala festival is a traditional buffalo race held every year in winter after harvesting of paddy crops. This Kambala buffalo race is held at many places in coastal districts (Dakshina Kannada and Udupi) of Karnataka state and Kasargod district of Kerala. This whole region is collectively known as Tulu Nadu.
| Date | Venue (Place) |
| 3 December 2022 | Venur (Venoor), Belthangady Taluk, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka |
| 10 December 2022 | Baradi Beedu, Barady, Udupi, Karnataka |
| 17 December 2022 | Hokkadigoli, Bantval Taluk of Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka |
| 18 December 2022 | Ballamanja, Belthangady Taluk of Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka |
| 24 December 2022 | Moodabidri (Mudbidri), Mangalore Taluk of Dakshina Kannada |
| 31 December 2022 | Mulki Arasu, Mangalore, Karnataka |
| 7 January 2023 | Miyar (Miyyaru), Karkala taluk of Udupi, Karnataka |
| 15 January 2023 | Adve Nandikoor, Padubidri, Udupi, Karnataka |
| 22 January 2023 | Mangluru, Bangra kulur |
| 28 January 2023 | Aikala Bava, Kinnigoli, Mangalore |
| 4 February 2023 | Puttur, Mangalore |
| 11 February 2023 | Vamanjoor, Mangalore |
| 18 February 2023 | Katapadi, Udupi |
| 25 February 2023 | Jappu (JeppinaMogaru), Mangalore |
| 4 March 2023 | Navoor, Bantval taluka, Dakshina Kannada |
| 11 March 2023 | Uppinangady, Karnataka |
| 18 March 2023 | Bangadi Kolli, Belthangady, Dakshina Kannada |
| 25 March 2023 | Paivalike, Kasargod, Kerala |
| 1 April 2023 | Surathkal, Dakshina Kannada |
| 8 April 2023 | Panapila, Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada |
History of Kamabala festival
The Kambala festival was earlier known as Karaga celebrations and later it became Kambala festival celebrations. There are many different beliefs regarding the origin of the festival.
Kambala festival dedicated to God Shiva and Lord Kadri Manjunatha. This Kambala festival is celebrated every after the harvesting of crops, to offer thanks to God for a good harvest. Since buffaloes are a part of agriculture, buffalo races are organized, which shows as a gesture of thankfulness.
Some also believe that the Kambala festival was started by Hoysala Kings to see the buffaloes used in war.
FAQs
What does the Kambala festival mean ?
Kambala festival is derived from ‘Kampa-Kala’, where Kampa means slushy or muddy, while Kala means field or paddy fields. So Kambla festival is a traditional buffalo race sport event held every year in the state of Karnataka.
In which state Kambala festival buffalo race is held ?
Kambala festival buffalo race is held in coastal regions of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka state and Kasargod of Kerala also. Kambala festival is a buffalo race held every year after the harvest of crops in early December and ends in March or April.
Is Kambala and Jallikattu the same festival ?
No, Kambala festival and Jallikattu are not the same festival. Kambala festival is a buffalo race sport event usually celebrated from December to March. Jallikattu is a bull taming event held during the Pongal festival which is held in January.
Is Kambala buffalo race banned in India ?
In 2014, Supreme Court imposed a ban on Kambala buffalo race, because of whip lashing on buffaloes, many petition filed against the animal cruelty during the race. But in 2017, under the prevention of Cruelty to Animals, KArnataka Amendment Ordinance, Kambala buffalo race was re-legalized as a traditional sport, with advisories not using the whip-lashing.
What are the Kambala festival buffalo race categories ?
The Kambala buffalo race is organized in pairs, where buffalo are held together with plough and ropes. And the Kambala buffalo race categories are Negilu, Hagga, Adda Halage, Kane / Kene Halage. To know more check article.
Why is the Kambala festival buffalo race celebrated ?
Kambala festival is celebrated to thank God for a good harvest. And buffaloes are a part of agriculture, so buffalo races are organized as a thankfulness and it also shows the good health of buffalo.