Mysuru Kambala, organised as part of the Dasara celebrations, will feature 160 pairs of buffaloes on October 18 and 19, with organisers expecting about 25 lakh visitors, Karnataka Kambala Committee president Deviprasad Shetty said. The event will be held on a 20-acre site around 7 km from Mysuru Palace.
Ashok Kumar Rai, the legislator overseeing the arrangements, announced the details after a meeting on preparations for transporting the buffaloes to Mysuru. Around 200 pairs of buffalo owners have shown interest in participating, but organisers will select 160 pairs through a subcommittee.
A five-acre area has been identified for the buffaloes’ stay. Organisers said arrangements would also be made for owners who want their animals to drink water brought from the coastal region. The event’s commentary will be provided in both Tulu and Kannada, while stalls showcasing the traditions and food of Tulu Nadu are also planned.
The racing area will include two tracks, named Vijaya and Dashami, each measuring 147 metres. Construction of the tracks is almost complete. The site is expected to accommodate more than 15,000 spectators at a time and will have three platforms. The main platform will host formal programmes, while the other two will provide seating for dignitaries and special invitees.
Viewing will be organised in three shifts, covering the morning to afternoon, afternoon to evening and evening to night. Visitors without passes will also be allowed to watch the event. For them, organisers are planning 5,000 seats.
The buffaloes participating in the event will leave from near Puttur Mahalingeshwara Temple at 10.30 am on October 16. They are scheduled to receive feed and a three-hour rest after reaching Madikeri before continuing to Mysuru the same night. October 17 will be reserved for rest after their arrival.
The government will bear transportation and feed expenses of ₹65,000 for each pair of larger buffaloes and ₹50,000 for each pair of smaller buffaloes. In the senior category, the owners of the winning pair will receive 16 grams of gold, while the second-place winners will receive 8 grams. Organisers are also considering prizes for the third and fourth positions.
In the junior category, the first prize will be 8 grams of gold and the second prize will be 5 grams. The event is being presented as a link between the farming communities and cultural traditions of Tulu Nadu and the rest of Karnataka.
The scale of the arrangements places temporary crowd infrastructure, animal accommodation, transport coordination and visitor access at the centre of the event plan. Organisers said they would conduct the Mysuru Kambala in a disciplined manner and make it accessible to visitors from across the state.
