Yashodhar Bangera

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje

Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri (EP/DC)

Moodbidri, Dec 2: The 16th annual Koti Chennaya Jodukare Kambala was held by Jodukare Kambala committee in Veerarani Abbakka Samskriti gram on Saturday, December 1.

Alangaru church parish priest Fr Walter D’ Souza, Alangar Badagu Mahalingeshwar temple managing trustee Vedamurthi Ishwar Bhat and Puthige Noorani mosque priest Maulana Zheyalla inaugurated the Kambala after offering prayers to the lake.

Ronald Colaco, NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist Ronald Colaco was the chief guest. The Kambala stage was named after his father Fabian Colaco.

Choutara Aramane Kuldeep M who presided, offered Prasada to the lake. Moodbidri Kambala committee president Umanath Kotian took up the leadership. Pakshikere church priest Fr Melwyn Noronha, Jain Basadi trustee Dinesh Kumar Anand, Venkataramana Hanumanta temple managing trustee G Umesh Pai, Rotary club president Dr Ramesh, Lions club president Dr Nithyananda Shetty, Tribhuvan Jaycees president Sangeetha Prabhu, Rotaract club president Pavan Bhat, Rotary club mid-town president Pravin Jain, Rotary club temple town president Vincent D’ Costa, district Kambala committee treasurer Suresh K Poojary, treasurer Bhasker S Kotian, chief secretary K Gunapal Kadamba and office bearers were present. Navin Amburi compered the programme.

Special importance was given to Tulu language in the programme. Most of the writings on the dais were in Tulu.

Chouta Rani who fought against Portuguese and Veera Rani Abbakka is remembered in the Kambala. The picture of Abbakka was kept on the dais. The tradition of offering prasada of Kuldeep M Chouta clan’s Somanatheshwara temple to the lake for the last sixteen years has been the specialty of the Kambala. The use of Tulu language during the Kambala is being commended in social media.

The valedictory of Kambala was held with several political leaders gracing the occasion. Union minister D V Sadananda Gowda who was the guest said, "According to me we should not beat the bulls’ during Kabala race. Those animal activists should also show their concern to street dogs. Here in Kambala we do not defy court order. We are preserving our tradition. PETA instead of talking about bulls, also take care of street dogs."

He further said that some section of the society have claimed that there is violence in Kambala. But the reality is different. "When I was the chief minister and became union minister I have supported the cause of saving Kambala. In future too I will support it," he said.

NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist Ronald Colaco, who was the chief guest, said, "Colaco family has a special bond with Moodabidri. Colaco family hails from Moodbidri. It is commendable to organise this beautiful Kambala here in Moodbidri. I am grateful to the organisers who have named the Kambala stage after my father Fabian Colaco. Kambala brings all the people together irrespective of caste and religion."

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP Shobha Karandlaje, vidhana parishad leader Kota Shrinivas Poojary, Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar, Moodabidri Kambala Samiti president and MLA Umanath Kotian, Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja, SDCC bank president Rajendra Kumar, Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, ZP president Meenakshi Shantigodu and others were present.

Mijaru Guttu Anand Alva and Yuvaraj Jain were honoured for their contribution to Kambala.

R K Bhat and Ranjith Poojary who successfully organise the Kambala were also felicitated.