District unites in support of Kambala

Kambala fans in the district raised their voice against the ban on Kambala by holding a mass protest rally to assert rights in Moodbidri on Saturday.  A host of buffalo owners, Kambala runners, fans, organisers, Tulu films actors and elected representatives took part in the protest rally organised jointly by District Kambala Samithi and Moodbidri Koti-Chennaya Jodukere Kambala Samithi.

Moodbidri MLA K Abhayachandra Jain led the rally taken out from Swaraj Maidan to Kadalakere, covering a distance of 2 kilometres. Around 10,000 people took part in the rally with 150 pairs of buffalos. The protesters raised slogan “Save Kambala, ban PETA”. Kombu Kahale and Chande Vadya teams also took part in the rally. People joined hands to raise voice for Kambala and protect the age-old tradition. Although Koti-Chennaya Jodukere was kept ready for Kambala, the organisers abstained from holding Kambala and instead brought the buffaloes to the Kambala venue.

Addressing the protesters, Balekodi Kshetra seer Shashikanth Mani Swamy said, “There is a need to save Kambala. Kambala is part of Tulunadu culture. We need to understand the traditional practices of the region. Kambala enjoys a special place and is part of worship.”
 
‘Watch Kambala’
Former minister Amarnath Shetty said those, who criticised Kambala, should visit the region, see Kambala once and then issue their statements. MLA Abhayachandra Jain said, “We respect the law of the land. The court and the government should understand the sentiments of the people of Tulunadu. The government has decided to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA), 1960, to pave the way for Kambala. The MLAs should support it. If the court gives a favourable judgement, then the first Kambala will be organised in Moodbidri in February first week.” 

District Kambala Samithi president Barkur Shantharam Shetty said no deaths have been reported during Kambala. One should not compare Kambala with that of Jallikattu, he said. Tulu theatre director-actor Devadas Kapikad, Kambala Academy president K Gunapala Kadamba, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake, coastalwood artistes Vijayakumar Kodialbail, Bhojaraj Vamanjoor, Naveen D Padil, Arjun Kapikad and others participated in the protest.