Mysuru: Mysuru district minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah said the traditional coastal sport of kambala added more grandeur to the cultural celebrations of Mysuru Dasara. He expressed hope that the rural sport would gain global recognition on a par with the world-famous festival.He was speaking after inaugurating kambala, the traditional buffalo race of coastal Karnataka, by flagging off the event organised for the first time as part of Mysuru Dasara by the district administration near the VTU Regional Centre at Sathagalli on Sunday.The minister said the historic sporting event was organised at the initiative of deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar to promote the indigenous sport of the coastal region, particularly Dakshina Kannada, and introduce Karnataka’s diverse cultural traditions to the younger generation. DK Shivakumar attended the kambala event and witnessed the races.“Kambala is a symbol of our rural culture. Just as Mysuru Dasara has earned worldwide recognition, kambala too should achieve global fame,” Yathindra said. He added that the inclusion of kambala in the Dasara celebrations would showcase Karnataka’s cultural diversity and provide a platform to promote the traditional sporting heritage of the coastal districts. Despite cloudy weather and opposition from a section of people, the inaugural day of the event witnessed a good turnout. Kambala enthusiasts thronged the venue from the morning to watch the races, with the buffaloes emerging as the biggest attraction for spectators. Many locals also visited the venue to witness the sport firsthand.Electrifying atmosphere absent: SpectatorsHowever, the event did not fully impress those familiar with traditional kambala races held in the coastal belt. Several spectators felt that the absence of the electrifying atmosphere associated with native kambala events and the lack of a natural paddy-field setting made the race appear somewhat artificial in an urban environment. Some observers opined that govt should reconsider organising such traditional rural sports away from their original native settings.Chamundeshwari MLA GT Devegowda, Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai, MLC K Shivakumar, Mysuru Zoo Authority chairman Rangaswamy, DC G Lakshmikanth Reddy, zilla panchayat CEO Ukesh Kumar S, superintendent of police Mallikarjuna Baladandi and Mysuru City Corporation commissioner MK Savitha were present.
