$owmya
On Air | Kambala
Shot @ Koti Chennaya Kamabla, Puttur, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India.
Kambala race is more than 1000 years old. It’s basically a popular rural sport in the districts of Mangalore and Udupi in Karnataka. It’s is a traditional buffalo race in slush water, held from December till March. The contest generally takes place between two pairs of buffaloes, controlled by a whip -lashing farmer. The 'track' used for Kambala is a paddy field filled with slush.
Koti Chennayya Kambala at Puttur is one of the largest Kambala of coastal region. Its organized under Mutappa Rai who was an underworld don, but now he is into social work.
This year nearly 148 pairs of buffalos participated in contest.
Kambala starts with a traditional music. The entire warm welcome is for the buffaloes; these healthy buffaloes are decorated with colourful ribbons and its oily skin gleaming in the hot sun. The farmer who checks them will be wearing red Peta (turban), Kache panche (Lungi) & a stick, (which will be designed in woolen and nylon wires and will cost around 1.5 – 2k). And his six-pack body, which is not, less than any bollywood star.
Red scarves are dress code of Kambala Samiti, every participants, volunteers, organizers and presidents will show their sporting support by wearing it.
The race sets out for 2days continuously thought out day and night.
Being an photographer its an advantage and especially if its lady :) lol. One of the organizers Mr. Praveen Nayak came & spoke to me, he thought I was from press, when I informed I am a hobby photographer, he offered me a red scarves, which is a supporting dress code as I mentioned earlier. And he took to the closest start point, introduced me to the other main organizers also. Wholly, it was VIP treatment.
I kept asking the organizer lot of questions, one thing really surprised me was about the buffaloes petting & its food. He told that these buffalos are petted only for purpose of Kambala. These buffalos are taken care like kids; they will have a separate bed made of sponge grass, they give coconut oil massage every day, they feed apply juice, carrot juice too :). He also mentioned participating in Kambala is a family pride and winning is the race gives them more respect.
Every pair of buffaloes will have an entry pass; the race is categorized according to the no. of teeth grown. The actual race starts from afternoon. The huge crowd, more than 50,000 people including ladies, kids and even college going students witness their keen love of this sport. And one more super cool thing was the commentary; there was two-commentary booth, one at the start line and the other at the finish line. And it was articulated in Tulu. They gave chance for the viewers also to do commentary.
It was totally a festival (fair/Jatre) atmosphere. Ice cream seller & candy sellers made good profit. And on the other side watermelon stall invited mass crowd too.
There is much opposition for this sport, from animal lovers, but people here have do not harm the buffaloes in any condition.
On Air | Kambala
Shot @ Koti Chennaya Kamabla, Puttur, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India.
Kambala race is more than 1000 years old. It’s basically a popular rural sport in the districts of Mangalore and Udupi in Karnataka. It’s is a traditional buffalo race in slush water, held from December till March. The contest generally takes place between two pairs of buffaloes, controlled by a whip -lashing farmer. The 'track' used for Kambala is a paddy field filled with slush.
Koti Chennayya Kambala at Puttur is one of the largest Kambala of coastal region. Its organized under Mutappa Rai who was an underworld don, but now he is into social work.
This year nearly 148 pairs of buffalos participated in contest.
Kambala starts with a traditional music. The entire warm welcome is for the buffaloes; these healthy buffaloes are decorated with colourful ribbons and its oily skin gleaming in the hot sun. The farmer who checks them will be wearing red Peta (turban), Kache panche (Lungi) & a stick, (which will be designed in woolen and nylon wires and will cost around 1.5 – 2k). And his six-pack body, which is not, less than any bollywood star.
Red scarves are dress code of Kambala Samiti, every participants, volunteers, organizers and presidents will show their sporting support by wearing it.
The race sets out for 2days continuously thought out day and night.
Being an photographer its an advantage and especially if its lady :) lol. One of the organizers Mr. Praveen Nayak came & spoke to me, he thought I was from press, when I informed I am a hobby photographer, he offered me a red scarves, which is a supporting dress code as I mentioned earlier. And he took to the closest start point, introduced me to the other main organizers also. Wholly, it was VIP treatment.
I kept asking the organizer lot of questions, one thing really surprised me was about the buffaloes petting & its food. He told that these buffalos are petted only for purpose of Kambala. These buffalos are taken care like kids; they will have a separate bed made of sponge grass, they give coconut oil massage every day, they feed apply juice, carrot juice too :). He also mentioned participating in Kambala is a family pride and winning is the race gives them more respect.
Every pair of buffaloes will have an entry pass; the race is categorized according to the no. of teeth grown. The actual race starts from afternoon. The huge crowd, more than 50,000 people including ladies, kids and even college going students witness their keen love of this sport. And one more super cool thing was the commentary; there was two-commentary booth, one at the start line and the other at the finish line. And it was articulated in Tulu. They gave chance for the viewers also to do commentary.
It was totally a festival (fair/Jatre) atmosphere. Ice cream seller & candy sellers made good profit. And on the other side watermelon stall invited mass crowd too.
There is much opposition for this sport, from animal lovers, but people here have do not harm the buffaloes in any condition.