Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Narendra Kerekadu

Mangaluru, Dec 15: In a happy news, the high court on Monday December 15 gave the green signal for the resumption of Tulunadu's traditional Kambala sport.

It has been learnt that Kambala will go on uninterrupted like before in the coastal districts.

The division bench headed by Justice Abdul Nazeer has said in its order that there is no problem in holding Kambalas as long as there is no violence against the animals. The court has directed the taluk administration to be present during Kambalas to monitor the animal sport to make sure that it is held without any violence.

As no Kambala was held this season except the symbolic ones to observe vows, now the Kambala fans in the twin districts have already begun the preparations to hold Kambalas at the soonest.

Kambala was stopped based on the Supreme Court order related to the violent game of Jalikkatu observed in Tamil Nadu. Though there was no mention of Kambala in the said order, because of the confusion in the animal husbandry department regarding the interpretation of the order, the order was linked to Kambala. Hence, the district administration received orders from the animal husbandry department to ban Kambala. Now it is learnt that the whole issue was created because of the ignorance of one of directors of the said department.

The ministers from the twin districts and even the chief minister had approached the union law minister D V Sadananda Gowda and submitted a memorandum urging the resumption of Kambala. The state government was planning to go to court with the appeal.

The district Kambala committees on behalf of the aggrieved parties had approached the high court against the district administrations after every door was shut. Now the division court has issued the order nullifying the district administrations’ order.

It may be recalled that a massive protest was held in Mangaluru days back demanding the resumption of Kambala.

As per reports, celebrations have already taken place at Karkala welcoming the High Court verdict.

Mangaluru, Udupi welcome move

Pics: Umesh Marpalli (Udupi)
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi (CLP)

Mangaluru, Dec 15: President of Dakshina Kannada Kambala Samithi Bhaskar Kotian welcomed the high court's decision to lift the ban on Kambala.

Addressing a press meet here, Kotian said, "We are happy today to hear the news about the high court giving the order in favour of Kambala and for saving Tulunadu's thousand-year-old traditional Kambala sport. We have been fighting for the last one and a half months for this and the media has played a vital role in making this fight a successul one.

"The union law minister D V Sadananda Gowda has shown great interest in the matter. After handing over the memorandum to him he did all the work necessary to save the Kambala without delay. I am not commenting on the role of the state government in the fight. All who have fought to save Kambala know it and there are also those who who did not support us. I thank all who have contributed and supported us."

Ashok Kumar Rai, Uppinangady Kambala Samiti president said, "Today we have got justice in the high court. Kambala is not only an entertaining sport, it is also held for religious reasons in the entire coastal area. The district administrations of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, without consulting us, went ahead to ban Kambala. There was no scientific test done on the Kambala sport, unlike Jallikattu which was scientifically tested and later banned. This had hurt the emotions of the Karavali area and today is the day of victory for us."

He further said, "This was possible due to the support of the central government. The state government did not help us in the fight. We abide by the order of the high court and thererfore no brutality nor violence against animals will be done. A tahsildar and an inspector will be present during Kambalas. We will run the Kambala sport in an organized way in the future. We thank all who contributed towards the fight."

Sitharam Shetty, Suresh K Poojary, Rajeev Shetty and Niranjan Rai were present.

Udupi

In Udupi too, a procession of buffaloes was taken out to celebrate the resumption of Kambala.

Shankar of Madhava Shetty Chikpady Kambala Mane said that Kambala has been existing since the time of Koti-Chennaya and that it has divine value too.

Members of various Kambala units were present. Religious rituals were also held.