After jallikattu victory in TN, ‘kambala beku’ gains ground in K’taka

Over 200 students from the National Students’ Union of India protested at Maurya Circle in Bengaluru demanding the ban on kambala be lifted on Wednesday.

Two buffaloes, symbolising the kambala cattle, were taken out for a procession from Maharani’s Women’s Arts, Commerce and Management College to Maurya Circle, while students shouted “kambala beku” and “justice for kambala”.

Kambala is the traditional cattle racing sport of Dakshina Kannada part of Karnataka, and has been banned as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

“Kambala has been celebrated in Karnataka for 900 years. It was a celebration to mark the beginning of the harvest season. This is a part of our culture. The Supreme Court has banned kambala on grounds of animal cruelty. Why has it not banned the horse racing?” asked Manjunath, chairman of NSUI.

He added: “It is obvious because so much money flows in and out of the race course, which is why no one has bothered to ban it. We will fight till the Centre intervenes and acknowledges our cause too.”

Manjunath said that similar protests by members of NSUI were held in Bijapur, Shivamogga, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar districts.

“Except for Republic Day, we will protest every day until the government passes an ordinance. If jallikattu can be made legal, so can kambala, which has been prevalent for longer than jallikattu,” said Anju, a 21-year-old student from Maharani College.

As ‘kambala beku’ picked up popularity, Kannada celebrities too have voiced their support for the sport.

Actors Jaggesh, Rakshit Shetty, Ragini, N Prem, and Yash have all echoed the sentiment that kambala should be held, and called for unity among Kannadigas.

In a post on Facebook, RJ Danish Sait had offered his support for kambala, although he was trolled heavily for it.

“Hi PETA India, please keep your nose out of Kambala. We understand you're concerned, but honestly, a bunch of people sitting in air conditioned rooms can't dictate terms on traditions and culture. It means different things to different people. Please respect it! We Kannadigas are free spirited and dislike "Ban" so much, that we even changed Bangalore to Bengaluru,” his post reads.

On Tuesday, Karnataka Law Minister, TB Jayachandra, had said that the Centre had to agree to lift the ban on kambala as the issue falls under the concurrent list.

“The state has authority to take decisions on this matter. The government is mulling over an ordinance,” Jayachandra told mediapersons on Tuesday.

Soon after, the Union Law Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was in Mangaluru to attend Niti Ayog’s Digi Dhan Mela, also promised the Centre’s support for lifting the ban on kambala.