The Kambala was unique for two reasons. One it was organised first time in Pilikula in front of Guttu house, the traditional house of Tulunadu.  Another, for the first time that the Kambala has been sponsored completely by the government.
Inaugurating the Kmabala, DC M Maheshwar Rao said “Kambala is the culture of Tulunadu.” Zilla Panchayat President Sucharitha Shetty, former MLAs Yogish Bhat, Krishna Palemar, former minister Ramanath Rai, ZP Member Vinod Mada among others were present. Pilikula Nisargadhama Executive Director J R Lobo was present.  Later, in the evening, Kannada and Culture department Secretary Vittaklamurthy also visited. As many as 70 pairs of buffaloes took part in the Kambala.
Two tracks, Nethravathi-Phalguni, had been readied for the buffalo race. When winning gold medals was the question of prestige for the guardians of the buffalos, showing gratitude to their owner was the main target of the buffaloes. The buffalo pairs ran along the tracks one after another, deciding who would grab the gold.
There were  ‘Hagga,’ ‘Kanehalage,’ ‘Negilu’ and ‘Addahalage’ categories. The entire audience appeared thrilled, while the water-mixed mud sprinkled across the field giving a new colour.