Mysuru: A two-day edition of Kambala, the traditional slush-track buffalo race of coastal Karnataka, is tentatively scheduled to be held on October 18 and 19 as a special attraction during this year’s Dasara celebrations. Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai, who has been entrusted by the State government with organising the event, inspected two potential venues in the city on Friday.

Two sites inspected for event

Accompanied by senior officials from the Police Department and the Department of Kannada and Culture, Ashok Kumar Rai visited vacant land near Premier Studio on Hunsur Road and another site near the regional office of Visvesvaraya Technological University in Sathagalli.

Speaking to reporters after the inspection, the MLA said the Sathagalli site appeared to be more suitable for hosting the prestigious event.

According to him, the Sathagalli location is more spacious and has parking capacity for around 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles. It is also located close to the Yuva Dasara venue and offers better access and exit points for traffic management.

However, he clarified that the final decision regarding the venue would be taken after consultations with Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar and other authorities.

October dates tentatively finalised

Ashok Kumar Rai said October 18 and 19 have been tentatively identified for the Kambala event, which is expected to be one of the major attractions of the Dasara festivities this year.

Around 20 acres of land will be required for setting up the Kambala track and associated facilities, while another 10 acres will be needed for parking arrangements.

The organisers are also planning to set up stalls serving traditional delicacies from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, giving visitors an opportunity to experience the culture and cuisine of coastal Karnataka.

Discussions regarding the construction of spectator galleries and other infrastructure facilities will be held with the Mysuru district administration in the coming weeks.

Event to be held during day and night

The MLA said the races would be conducted during both daytime and nighttime over two days, enabling thousands of visitors attending the Dasara celebrations to witness the traditional sport with their families.

The event is expected to attract a large number of spectators from across Karnataka and neighbouring states.

Responding to queries from reporters, Ashok Kumar Rai said around 150 to 200 pairs of buffaloes are expected to participate in the event.

The buffaloes will arrive from the coastal districts a day before the event and will halt at Madikeri before proceeding to Mysuru.

Government likely to allocate special budget

The proposed Kambala event is expected to cost between Rs 5 crore and Rs 8 crore. The State government is likely to earmark a special budget to organise the races as part of the Dasara celebrations.

Recalling the successful organisation of the Bengaluru Kambala two years ago, Ashok Kumar Rai said the event had cost around Rs 12 crore and had attracted an estimated 25 lakh to 30 lakh spectators.

Officials present during the inspection included Deputy Commissioners of Police Harsha Priyamvada and K S Sundar Raj, Assistant Director of the Department of Kannada and Culture M D Sudarshan and other district officials.

Conclusion

The proposed Kambala in Mysuru is expected to add a unique coastal flavour to this year’s Dasara celebrations and attract thousands of visitors. With preparations already underway and the final venue yet to be decided, the event is likely to emerge as one of the highlights of the state’s biggest cultural festival.