Kambala

Explanation :

• Kambala is an annual festival celebrated in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.
• Traditionally, it is sponsored by local Tuluva landlords and households in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi of Karnataka and Kasaragod of Kerala, a region collectively known as Tulu Nadu.
• The festival involves the traditional buffalo race, a popular and unique sport among the farming community of the state.
• During the early days of the festival it was known as Karaga celebrations. Later it came to be known as Kambala celebrations.

Types

• There are four types of Kambala: Bare Kambala, Pokare Kambala, Arasu Kambala and Modern Kambala.
• In the first type, the man holding the rope of bulls also runs the race from behind. But the plough is not tied in this type.
• In the second type, the man though holds the rope doesn’t run from behind, rather he ties a plank to the plough and stands on the plough.
• In the third type, a plough is tied to both the bulls and the man holding the rope runs from behind.
• The fourth type is called Kane halage race: In this format, reaching the goal is not important. A cloth is tied at two meters height on the both sides of the running track. While running, the sludge should touch and stain the cloth....Prize is given based on the proportion of stains on the cloth.