Kambala calendar for 2018-19 released; first event in Kakkyapadavu on November 24

MANGLAURU: District Kambala Samiti of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Kasaragod districts on Friday released the Kambala Event Calendar for 2018-19.

The first Kambala event of the season will be held at Kakyapadavu in Bantwal on November 24 followed by another major event in Moodbidri on December 1.

While Kambala events will be held at over 50 places in coastal districts of Karnataka and Kasaragod in Kerala till March, major day and night events will be held at 18 places as per the calendar released by the samiti.

The Kambala season 2018-19 will come to an end with an event to be held on Soorya-Chandra tracks of Thalappady on March 23.

Samiti president PR Shetty said Kambala is scheduled to be held in front of the Guthu Mane of Pilikula Nisargadhama on December 22. However, he said, preparations are yet to be done for the event at Pilikula.

“The district administration is keen on holding Kambala at Pilikula Nisargadhama. However, the Kambala tracks there are yet to be cleared for the event. It may take some time to prepare the tracks. Hence, we may change the schedule depending on the preparations,” he said.

Regarding legal issues, Shetty said there is no legal hurdle to hold Kambala since it has got legal tag with the government passing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2017.

“We will hold Kambala events adhering strictly to rules ensuring zero torture to animals. We will also restrict the event for 24 hours strictly. A meeting in this regard will be held in Miyar near Karkala on November 21. All Kambala buffalo owners, jockeys and other stakeholders will be invited for the meeting which will discuss in detail about rules pertaining to the event,” he said.