KADRI KAMBLA-2011

The famous Kadri Kambala was inaugurated at the Kadri Kambala fields here on Sunday December 4 morning.

The event began under the banner of Kambala Samiti with the traditional ritual of honouring the buffaloes by the family head of Kadri Kambala Guttu, in the presence of the Swamiji of Kadri Yogishwara Mutt, Mahantharasa Rajayogi Sandhyanathji.

 At 8.30 am, slush field race was held in four separate categories for both men and women. This was inaugurated by Lion Kishore Rao. The tug of war competition was held at 10 am.

‘Tappangayi’ competition, ‘Vodafone Treasure Hunt’ will be also organized. The competition between racing buffaloes will be in different categories like Kane Halage, Hagga Hiriya,and Hagga Kiriya which will commence in the noon. Owners of the winning pairs of buffalos will be presented gold medals.

Photography exhibition and tug of war contests were inaugurated by DC Dr Channappa Gowda. Dy Speaker Yogish Bhat, former minister B Nagaraj Shetty, DK district Kannada Sahithya Parishad president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura among others were present.

It is evident that people of Mangalore prefer to combine the modern elements with the traditional sports. An example of it was on display at the slushy field here during the buffalo race.

The morning session consisted of water sports such as races and tug-of-war for children, men and women. In the afternoon, the much-awaited buffalo races were conducted.

Pairs of buffaloes thronged the venue escorted by their owners or riders. The buffaloes were from places across Mangalore and also Moodbidri, Talapady and Mundkur. They had been washed and adorned with leaves and tinsel. As soon as each pair of buffaloes appeared, the cheerleaders, consisting of drummers and persons playing various musical instruments, welcomed them.

Kadri Navneeth Shetty, chief convenor of the Kambala Samiti conducted the event.

Results:-
Category - Kanehalage:

Buffaloes owned by Vamanjoor Tiruvailguttu Pravinchandra Alva and buffalo handler Ramlan Guruvayanakere (first)

Gurupur Kedubari Guruvappa Poojary’s buffaloes and their handler Naranappa Salian, Puttur Marakooru (second)

Category - Hagga Hiriya:

Morla Girish Alva’s buffaloes and handler Chandrashekar Karinje (first)

Palimar Aggadakalia Ganesh Narayan Devadiga and its handler Dinesh Kotian Palimar (second)

Category - Hagga Kiria:

Boladaguttu Satish Shetty’s buffaloes and handler Mohammed Kannadikatte (first)
Konaje Mohammed Hanif’s buffaloes and handler Ashraf Bangady (second)

Well-behaved buffaloes: Guruvappa Kedubari Guruvappa Poojary

Race in Silted Field:
Boys under 12 years:
Nihal Shetty, Lourdes Central School (first), Hem, Canara High School, Urwa, (second) and Sagar Bengre (third)

Boys under 18 years:
Manish Bengre (first), Dikshit D Kanchan Bengre (second), and Roshan Bengre (third)

General category:
Shailesh Bengre (first), Praveen KPT (second), and Ansar Vittal (third)

Girls under 12 years:Kavana Konchady (first), Sanjana Bengre (second), Pratiksha Bengre and Dimple Bengre (third)

Girls under 18 years:
Sushmita, BGS School (first), Shweta, Vittal Girls PU College (second), and Roopa, Vittal Girls PU College (third)

Girls general category:
Dipti, Police Lane (first), Sushmita, BGS School (second), and Shweta, Vittal (third)

Men’s tug-of-war:
Shakti Bharati Gymnasium, Tokkottu (first), and Friends Mogarnadu A (second)

Women’s tug-of-war:

Padukere Friends, Malpe (first), and National Health League, Hosabettu (second)

Details of Kambla and Kadri Kambla

                                                                         KAMBLA

Kamblathe very name sends shivers of excitement up my spine! The race of Man with Buffaloes in muddy water, running at breakneck speed, it was an absolutely breathtaking and exhilarating experience.
   This event of Kambla dates back more than 100 years ago and is usually held during the months of December and January in various parts in and around Mangalore. Village people wait anxiously for the Kambla season to start every year.

       Buffaloes are handpicked and specially trained well in advance of this event. They are fed special diet, bathed and exercised on a regular basis. They also conduct mock races in makeshift conditions to resemble actual Kambla site. 
        The actual Kambla site has dual channels of water, rectangular in shape and clear of any impediment. The channels have constant supply of flowing water. Around the center of the length of the channel they have two banners at slight different heights. 
         The length of the rectangular channel is 110 meters and men who run along with these buffaloes are young, bare footed and at times break the speed of Olympic sprinter that is under 14 seconds. 

          The have a wooden plank tied immediately behind buffaloes hind legs and the man at times stands on it. There is a hole in the plank through which a jet of water rockets up, depending on who touches the highest point on the banner, is adjudged the winner.

             The attire these men who ran with the buffalo wore was also unique, maroon lungi tied above the knee and similar colored turban (mundas) too.There will be people wearing costumes to imitate buffalo and little boys would be seen playing drums to imitate the band.

               The whole atmosphere will so surreal, out of this world, people of all ages including children and women would be gathered at one place. They were cheering at the time of the race, or just strolling around the site of the kambla.There will  pendals where buffaloes were resting after the race guarded by a man with a whip.

                                                            KADRI KAMBLA

            The Kadri Kambla is also one of the oldest in the district. The first Kambla was reportedly held during the time of Devu Poonja. In his book Gururaja Bhat mentions that the great warrior Devu Poonja of 10th century BC records in his soujourn into the country side of Dakshina Kannada then known as Kadali' recounts the fervour and gaiety with which Kambla was held in these parts.   

      The Kadri Kambla is a double track event. The tracks have been named after Lord Shiva namely Machchendranatha and Gorakshanatha. Apart from the Buffalo races there will be other folk games that will be    played including Hagga Jaggata in men, women and children category, slush track dash for girls and boys, Theppangayi for youth. The Theppangayi is the rural form of the Rugby. A clean shaven coconut dipped in oil is handed over to two teams of youth, these groups try to hold the slippery coconut and reach it to the goal post.

           According to Gunapal Kadamba one of the top Kambla specialist  there are more than 45 Kambalas held annually in the district. The Kambla season starts from November and goes up to March in Kundapur in Udupi taluk to Kasargod in Kerala state, which is known as tulunadu.  Nearly 18 of the Kambalas are held under a Kambala Samithi and the rest are held under the auspices of temples and with political patronage.

 
 Shirva Soorya -Chandra,  Baradi Beedu Soorya - Chandra, Katapadi Beedu Moodu Padu,  Mulki Moodu Padu, Aikala - Bava Kantha bare - Booda bare,  Miyar - Karkala Lava - Kusha, Adve - Nandikoor Koti Chennayya, Barkur - Althar Kshetrapala - Nagaraja,  Permude - Venoor Soorya - Chandra, Pajir Lava - Kusha,  Idu Jaya - Vijaya, Puttur Koti Chennayya, Pilikula Nethravathi - Palguni Kamblas are some of the most popular Kamblas in the district.