Kambala or Kambla is a famous rural sport, prominent in districts of Udupi and Mangalore in the state of Karnataka in India. Kambala is also known to be held in few northern parts of Kerala like Kasargod. Kambala is a traditional buffalo race in muddy waters, held from December till March on weekends (sat/sun) every year.
(Click on play button to watch the photo video)
Kambala is a race between pairs of bullocks, which are rode by a human. The bullocks are tied together with a wooden shaft over their neck. These bullocks are typically dedicated bullocks of the family for the Kambala and are pride of the family.
More pics and details after the jump…
The race is conducted typically on an unused rice field in muddy water. The length of the race is usually about 100 or 200 meters. The race are classified based on the age of the bullocks; and this is determined by counting the number of tooth that has fallen. Winners are paid rewards in cash or kind.
Locals in this area look forward for these events yearly and are a great get together for the family and friends. These races happen at break neck speeds and are a treat to watchers eyes and are very popular among everyone from aged people to city going to youths.
Popular Kmbala include Kadri Kambala, Koti Chennaya Kambala, Jaya-Vijaya, Surya Chandra, Kantabare Boodabare, Lava Kusha, Katpady Arasa Kambala and Kaup Arasa Kambala.
Below is a brief photo documentary of the sport/art/passion what is known as Kambala. You may click on the image to view it large (will display inline).
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
   |
|
|
My Flickr set for Kambal photographs may be viewed here. |
|
Most kambalas are held under the banner of Kambala Samithi and the rest are held under the support of temples and political support.
The above collage is a result of photographs taken from my two kambala trips to Puttur - ‘Koti Chennaya Kambala ‘ and B.C.Road ‘Jaya Vijaya Kambala’.
– Update (based on few comments) July 02, 2008 19.16 IST –
About the animals and their treatment: There is always two sides to a story on any thing. Here I have not tried to hide any thing.. this is more of emotions I felt watching Kambala and I have tried to capture the same with my camera and share with you all.
Please do note that Kambala is a very old traditional sport/art of the people of south India. It is their only entertainment and it is their passion of the people around these places. Most of these raiders and people own these bulls are farmers and look after these bulls as their family or how people in cities look after their pets. These bulls are very well taken care of.. in some case more than the once that are used for farming or manual labor.
I personally have seen races in these Kambala where the rider is very hesitant on hitting or hurting these bulls.. I can very clearly remember one young pair where bulls were just walking and the rider just used to try and scare them by just acting/patting one there back.. I think he was even softer then most moms would pat on their kids. And there are definitely few exception and it hurt me.. some people don’t understand animals or care for them. It is these people that need to be educated. These exception are there every where as in life.
There will always some times be bad treatment of animals when ever humans interact with animals in any place. One can talk about people pets at home to domestic helps or animals being used to transport goods to animals being used in agriculture or in sports or in entertainment.
Most people in there ignorance or trying to boost there own ego end up harming animals.. especially the wild once.. I can recall a recent incident on my trip to one of the national parks.. people used to stop on the highway and feed the animals like langur or deer. This makes these animals think every one passing by may give food and they end up getting killed by speeding vehicles or by poachers.
I think most of us .. at least me care about animals and respect the work Menaka does for animals.
—-
Related post by Suruchi (fellow photographer) can be viewed here.
All photographs displayed here are copyright protected (All right reserved) and I own the copyright (unless other wise stated). You may only use it in its original form for personal use on your computer. The images should not be reproduced, published, transmitted in any forum (even via e-mails/or upload to Orkut/or any other networking sites) or in print or in any other physical or electronic forum either in part or in whole without the explicit written consent from the copyright owner. Legal action will be initiated against any individual, organisation, institution, agency, publishing house, etc. who violate the Copyright laws including but not limited to those mentioned here and use the image for any commercial/non-commercial purposes. If you would like to use any of the photograph displayed here commercially or would like to use for any other use please do contact me.
June 24th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Nice to know about the Kambala. Look forward to witness one, the next time I am in Mangalore.
Can you tell me whether there is any particular month during which these events are held?
cheers,
June 24th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
thats cool to know rajesh; its held from December till March every year on weekends.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 am
man..This is awesome !!!
reminds me of the one I attended in Puttur in ‘92
should try getting it on Nat-Geo.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 am
Really good one.. Thats our sport & gr8 work on getting it noticed. Backing Dutta’s view , i too remember watching one way back in ‘90 in Valambra, Ujire in Belthangady. I was a small kid then though. Back then my aunt’s family owned a pair of kambala bulls. They were majestic!
Beware, Menaka may ban these races terming it “torture/unethical treatment on animals”!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
Marvellous Saurav and co, nice to know the happenings like kambala. I was un-aware of even being hailing from Karnataka.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
hum….. think about animals.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Akshath,
I have been following your pictures and work from a long time. I just loved the color and the panning effects youve achieved in your pictures. Excellent job.
I really pity the unethical treatment of those animals and also your friend Prashanth who finds Menaka’s helping hand amusing in some way whatsoever. WHen will people learn to respect humans who help animals. You never know ;-).
Warm Regards,
Arvind
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Brilliant pics! and a great PhotoDocumentary!
And love this blog template!
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Thanks Sunil, Prashanth, Lalesh, Ali, Arvind and Kshitiz for your comments and opinion appreciate you people taking time to post it.
About the animals and their treatment: There is always two sides to a story on any thing. Here I have not tried to hide any thing.. this is sort of emotions I felt watching Kambala and I have tried to capture the same with my camera and share with you all.
Please do note that Kambala is a very old traditional sport/art of the people of south India. It is their only entertainment and it is their passion of the people around these places. Most of these raiders and people own these bulls are farmers and look after these bulls as their family or how people in cities look after their pets. These bulls are very well taken care of.. in some case more than the once that are used for farming or manual labor.
I personally have seen races in these Kambala where the rider is very hesitant on hitting or hurting these bulls.. I can very clearly remember one young pair where bulls were just walking and the rider just used to try and scare them by just acting/patting one there back.. I think he was even softer then most moms would pat on their kids. And there are definitely few exception and it hurt me.. some people don’t understand animals or care for them. It is these people that need to be educated. These exception are there every where as in life.
There will always some times be bad treatment of animals when ever humans interact with animals in any place. One can talk about people pets at home to domestic helps or animals being used to transport goods to animals being used in agriculture or in sports or in entertainment.
Most people in there ignorance or trying to boost there own ego end up harming animas.. especially the wild once.. I can recall a recent incident on my trip to one of the national parks.. people used to stop on the highway and feed the animals like langur or deer. This makes these animals think every one passing by may give food and they end up getting killed by speeding vehicles or by poachers.
I think most of us .. at least me care about animals and respect the work Menaka does for animals. And Prashanth is from the same area were Kambala is very prominent and he is passionate about it and does not want it banned and his comment should be seen in that light.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Kambala - sport/art/passion - A photo documentary…
Kambala or Kambla is a famous rural sport, prominent in districts of Udupi and Mangalore in the state of Karnataka in India. Kambala is a traditional buffalo race in muddy waters, held from December till March on weekends every year….
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Interesting information and terrific photos. I especially like the portraits.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Found your blog link from BWS ans BWShoos discussion thread.
Great pics and writeup. Had read Sur’s Kambala blog post earlier.
Is it always held at only Puttur? Which time during the year?
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:49 am
Thanks Bryan and Manasa for your comments
@Manasa: Kambala is held all over districts of Udupi and Mangalore. Puttur being one of the places and Puttur kambala is one of the last one for the season. Typically most Kambala organizers have their Kambala every year or every 4 years.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Akshath, appreciate your way of keeping everyone heard!
The bulls are well fed with nutritious food, given oil massage & bathed daily. They are not even used for any farm work! Tell me how many of us have this luxury? We sit in our cubicles & gaze at Window’s screen for most part of day & yet complain of recognition. 
And at my comment about Menaka, if it hurt someone it is not intentional. The point I was making here was that people only sit back & see one side of it! why do not they realize the tradition, passion of people & history behind it? As i said previously, my aunt’s family owned one pair of these Kambla bulls & if you see the treatment they get, it may put some of us in complex
No matter its a victory/loss the owner hugs & treats them like children. This is same as any other sport! I wont be surprised one day if people start complaining about an athlete/sportsperson when sacked/supported as ‘unethical treatment’ on humans!
Hope this doesnt become another controversy!
July 12th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Added. Nice work on this one. Walter
July 12th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Great blog, but i couldnt understand where can i subscribe to your rss feed?
July 13th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
RSS Links are at the bottom of every page and there is also Subscribe link at the left navigation bar..
July 14th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Nice! You hit the nail on the head! This post is a home run! -Kelly
July 19th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I linked to your site, but I don’t think the ping came thru on your end. oh well.
July 19th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Great info - keep up the great work.
August 18th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!
January 20th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
puttur kambla credit goes to late MR.JAYANT KUMAR RAI.
Everyone talks about DON MR MUTTAPPA RAI.
Now Jayant Rai is no more and everyone had forgotten his name.
January 20th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Photography is too good akshath.
January 21st, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Good work and nice Photographs akshath…
Out of curiocity i googled kambala and found your album…..its very nice collection….
i used to watch kambala since my childhooddays ….nowdays its difficult for me as i am staying away,but i ensure to watch atleast one event in a year. i have planed watch one at Moodbidri this weekend.
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:36 am
Puttur - ‘Koti Chennaya Kambala’ is happening from 7th Mar 2009 and should be till 8th. people interested plan for the same..
September 18th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
i lovre kambala
September 21st, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Nice . tulunadda kale inchene belagad
January 25th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Hi Akshat,
Though working with IT company, never thought there could be such a wonderful Website on my Hometown. Thansk for such a Beutiful work. Kudos to you. Today when I was looking out for something on google thought of old Traditional Jatre (Mela)of Puttur and end of finding such a wonderful site and information. Keep UP the Good Work.
Bhagwandas Srinivas Rao.
February 4th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
Thank for your wonderful photos.