Kambala is an annual Buffalo Race held traditionally under the auspices local land lords and households (Aramane, Beedu, Guthu/Mane, Dodmane) or Patel of village, in coastal Karnataka, India.
The Kambala season generally starts in November and lasts until March.
Since the last two decades nearly 18 kambalas are held under the banner of Kambala Samithi (Kambala Association).
As of now, more than 45 he-buffalo races are held annually in Coastal Karnataka, even in smaller remote villages like Vandaru, Gulvadi etc.
With an Ordinance promulgated to lift the ban on jallikattu (bull-taming) in Tamil Nadu, the demand for lifting the ban on kambala, traditional buffalo racing, is gaining momentum in coastal Karnataka.
Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts Kambala Samiti has convened a meeting to discuss the fallout of the Tamil Nadu Ordinance.
The State government in November 2016 informed the High Court, during the hearing of a PIL petition filed by PETA, that it had withdrawn the permission given to hold the kambala, based on the Supreme Court’s order on jallikattu.
