People from different sections of society formed a human chain at the busy Hampankatta circle in Mangaluru on Friday in support of saving ‘Kambala’ (slush-track buffalo race).

Member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada, Nalin Kumar Kateel; Member of the Legislative Assembly from Mangaluru North, Mohiuddin Bava; noted Tulu film personalities such as Devadas Kapikad, Vijayakumar Kodialbail, Navin D Padil and Arjun Kapikad; representatives from the Kambala organising committees of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, and students from local colleges participated in the human chain formation.

(Organising Kambala has been stayed by the High Court following a petition by animal rights activists in this regard. The court is scheduled to hear the case on January 30.)

Speaking on the occasion, Kateel said Kambala, which has a history of several centuries, is a traditional folk sport of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod districts along the west coast. Kambala has become a part of the agrarian culture of these districts.

Thanking the students for their support in this regard, he said everyone should join hands to save Kambala.