Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Dec 16: Kambala, or the traditional buffalo race was held in Hombadi Mandadi village in the house of Mandadi Horva here on Sunday, December 15.

The buffalo race is being held here for the last four generations as a part of tradition and offering.

More than thirty pairs of buffaloes participated in the race under the leadership of retired PWD executive engineer Ratnakar Shetty. 

A buffalo race field with an area of nearly five acres was used for the purpose. Besides holding competitions in various groups, those who brought buffaloes for the race were felicitated with cash gifts, tender coconuts and sugarcane.

State buffalo race winner B Shantaram Shetty Barkur inaugurated the buffalo race festival.  Retired PWD executive engineer Ratnakar Shetty presided over the programme. 

N Manjayya Shetty Sabladi, S Dinkakar Shetty, businessman Mandadi Rajiv Shetty and head at Horvara house, Babanna were the chief guests.  Physical education instructor P T Prakash Shetty conducted the programme.  Lecturer Udaya Shetty welcomed and thanked the gathering.

Hobadi Mandadi school headmaster Raghuram Shetty and teacher Jayaram Shetty were in charge of entries.  Udaya Kumar Shetty conducted the race. 

Assistant planning officer at the department of youth and sports, S Dinaker Hegde and former grama panchayat president Ganesh Shetty were the judges.