Kambala

Subject: History

Section: Art and culture

Context: Kambala comes to Bengaluru

More about the news:

Over the weekend, Bengaluru hosted its inaugural Kambala race,
The Karnataka government, recognizing its popularity, amended legislation to permit and facilitate the continuation of these races
The event attracted a significant turnout, with thousands of spectators visiting the venue to witness the races.

What is Kambala:

Kambala is an annual buffalo race held in the south western Indian state of Karnataka.
Traditionally, it is sponsored by local Tuluva landlords and households in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi of Karnataka and Kasaragod of Kerala, a region collectively known as Tulu Nadu.
The Kambala season generally starts in November and lasts until March.
The Kambalas are organized through Kambala samithis (Kambala Associations)
During the race, the racers try to bring the buffaloes under control by holding their reins tight and whipping them.
In its traditional form, Kambala was non-competitive and buffalo pairs raced one after another in paddy fields.
Slushy/marshy paddy field track is used for Kambala.
It was also observed as thanksgiving to gods for protecting the animals from diseases.

What are the categories in Kambala:

Kambala races are typically organized into four categories.
The first, Negilu (plough), involves using lightweight ploughs to tether buffaloes for entry-level races.
In the second category, Hagga (rope), jockeys race buffaloes with just a rope connecting the pair.
The third category, Adda Halage, has jockeys standing on a horizontal plank pulled by buffaloes, distinguishing it from Hagga and Negilu where jockeys run behind the animals.
Kane Halage, the fourth category, features a wooden plank attached to buffaloes. As the plank is dragged through slush tracks, water gushes out of holes, and the height of the splashes determines the event’s winner.

Why was Kambala outlawed by the Supreme Court:

Various organizations, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), lodged a petition against traditional sporting events, alleging animal abuse.
The specific concern with Kambala was the tying of buffaloes’ noses with ropes and continuous whipping during races, constituting cruelty.
The Supreme Court, after hearing these petitions, issued a ban on Jallikattu, Kambala, and bullock cart racing in 2014.

How was the ban lifted:

In January 2016, the Environment Ministry issued a notification creating an exception allowing the training of bulls for events such as Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and Bullock Cart Races in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala, and Gujarat.
This exception was granted under the condition that certain measures be taken to minimize the suffering of animals involved in these sports.
Simultaneously, state governments amended the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to provide legal exemptions for these events.
Despite legal challenges, a five-judge Constitutional Bench in May of the same year upheld the amendments made by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.

Why has Kambala been accused of caste discrimination:

Historically, members of the Koraga community, formerly deemed “untouchable,” were subjected to mistreatment preceding the festival, with instances of them being compelled to participate in the races instead of the buffaloes.
Critics contend that even today, the sport is predominantly controlled by higher caste groups, while individuals from lower castes often find themselves relegated to menial tasks during the event.