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Kambala (Tulu&Kannada:ಕಂಬಳ ) is an annual Buffalo Race held traditionally under the sponsorship of local land lords and households, in coastal Karnataka, India. The Kambala season generally starts in November and lasts till March. Of late, Kambala Samithis are formed to arranged Kambala in a systematice way and 18 kambalas are being held under the banner of Kambala Samithi (Kambala Association). Currently, more than 45 races are held annually in Coastal Karnataka, including smaller remote villages like Vandaru, Gulvadi etc.
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Kambala is traditionally a simple sport which essentially, to entertain rural people of the area. The 'track' used for Kambala is a slushy paddy field. The contest generally takes place between two pairs of buffaloes, each pair race in wet rice fields, controlled by a whip-lashing farmer. Historically, the winning pair of buffaloes was rewarded with coconuts and bananas. Today, gold coins, silver coins are given; in some competitions, cash award is also popular. Some organising committees award eight gram gold coin as first prize. However, Kambala today has become an organised rural sport, with elaborate planning and scheduling to accommodate competietions at different places. The "Kambala Committee" is formed and arranges races in several categories like Kane Halage, Hagga Hiriya, Hagga Kiriya, Halage, Adda Halage etc. People place massive bets on the buffaloes to win and one can witness more than 20,000 spectators in a well-organised Kambala, egging on and cheering the buffaloes to complete the race.
In traditional form of Kambala, racing is non-competitive, and the pair run one by one in paddy fields. A ritualistic approach is also there, as some agriculturists race their buffaloes for thanks giving for protecting their animals from diseases.(e.g.in Vandaru,Choradi villages)
Innovations are made in conducting kambala race and in some places day and night races are arranged under floodlights.
Kadri kambala
Kadri Kambala used to be held at Kadri, Mangalore and it is called Devara Kambala (God's kambala) as it is associated with Sri Manjunatha Temple, Kadri, Mangalore. This event was patronised by Alupa kings of Mangalore who were the rulers 300 years ago and for this reason, Kadri kambala is also known as Arasu kambala (king's kambala).
Care for buffaloes
The buffaloes developed for the race are carefully fed and some owners of the buffaloes have even built separate swimming pool for competing buffaloes.
Opposition by animal lovers
Kambala has been criticised by animal lovers as they perpetuate cruelty due to the use of whips on the racing buffaloes. Noted animal-rights activist, Mrs. Maneka Gandhi has expressed serious concerns about the ill treatment of buffaloes during the race. Kambala organisers, on their part, contend that if whips are not used on the buffaloes, they may not run with speed in the race. Government officials are advising the riders to be gentle on buffaloes and avoid using whips during the race. Kambala still continues to draw rural crowd, as it used to draw large crowd, traditionally since last three hundred years.
Supreme Court Ban
In 2014, based on lawsuits filed by animal welfare organizations, the Supreme Court of India ordered a ban on Kambala and Jallikattu (Kambala and jallikattu are different by principle. Kambala is buffalo racing where as jallikattu is bull taming where a group of people try to hold on to the bull and win). There has been a request to remove this ban on Kambala, following a government order to remove the ban on Jallikattu in January 2017.