Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Jan 29: This Kambala season is getting official start after a delay of two months because of coronavirus concerns. The first Kambala of the season in the form of Jodukare Kambala, will be held under the supervision of Undivided Dakshina Kannada District Kambala Samithi, at Bantwal on Saturday January 30.

Preparations are on to hold Hokkadigoly Veera - Vikrama Jodukare Kambala located on the border of Bantwal and Beltangady taluks, duly complying with COVID rules. The Kambala will begin at 8 am on Saturday and go on till 10 pm. Mahishamardini Kambala Samithi will be holding the event.

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People from villages surrounding the venue of the Hokkadigoly Kambala have repaired the Kambala field through voluntary work. Asranna of the local Poonja shrine, Krishnaprasad Acharya, will initiate the Kambala. Chief priest Prakash Acharya and Kuldeep M of Chowtara Aramane at Moodbidri will be present. MLA Rajesh Naik Ulippadyguthu will preside. Deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi, ministers Kota Srinivas Poojary and S Angara, BJP national general secretary C T Ravi, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLAs Sunil Kumar, Kumar Bangarappa, Harish Poonja and Umanath Kotian, MLCs Pratapsimha Nayak, K Harish Kumar, former ministers B Ramanath Rai and B Nagaraja Shetty and others will participate.

Samithi president Nonaluguthu Rashmith Shetty Kaithrody, said that 150 pairs of buffaloes are expected to participate in the Kambala as no Kambalas were held in the region for quite some time. Rules like no entry for children less than the age of 10 and people above 60, limited crowd etc will be enforced. Masks, sanitisers, thermal screening, maintenance of social distancing etc will be enforced. Direct transmission through televisions and social websites have been arranged.