Mangalore:  'Nagaraj' - Undisputed Kambala King of DK Moves into Oblivion

Photo: Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jun 9: 'Nagaraja' who excelled in Kambala sport and cast his magic spell on the Kambala fields in the twin districts for nearly two decades, breathed his last on Sunday June 7 night. With him, the Kambala sport has lost a hero who remained unchallenged for 16 long years. Nagaraja stopped breathing when he was sleeping, bringing tears in the eyes of Kambala enthusiasts.

A small two-year-old calf had been brought to Payyottu Salian house from the house of Nagi Poojarti, Ucchila. As the day happened to be Nagara Panchami, the calf was named 'Nagaraja', which was destined to bring name and fame to Payyottu family.

Nagaraja, a buffalo that specialized in Kambala race, was the proud possession of Mulki Payyottu House. With its death at the house of Sadashiva Salian of Payyottu House, a void has been created in the world of Kambala buffaloes.

Nagaraja joined Payyoottu House when it was two years old. It started participating in races when it was four, and became the uncrowned emperor of the Kambala scene here, for 20 long years. During its illustrious career, Nagaraja won 115 medals. The achievements of Nagaraja may be gauged by the fact that the postal department had brought out a stamp with its picture on the stamp. It was felicitated at various places including a felicitation at Katpady in which it was honoured by offering a golden crown. Nagaraja understood the touch of the whip and did not need to be hit while racing. The buffalo was rested since the last five years.

The buffalo shivered in the monsoon cold on Saturday night and was a little sick on Sunday. By Sunday evening, it suddenly bid adieu to the world, leaving thousands of its fans and its owner in deep grief. As there is a widespread belief that the carcasses of the cattle should not be disposed off on Monday, the funeral of Nagaraja was conducted on Sunday night itself, which was witnessed by thousands of people.

Nagaraja took part in the junior section of Kambala for the first four years and in the senior section, for the next 16 years. It won in almost all the Kambala competitions it participated. The buffalo gets credit for being longest-running Kambala buffalo ever and also for accumulating highest number of medals, many of which were hat-tricks, earning him the nick-name, ‘Hat-trick Hero’.  Nagaraj's speciality was to pull along the other buffalo along, irrespective of the capabilities of the other buffalo, and win the race.

The veterinarian who attended to Nagaraja said, Nagaraja lived for 26 years as against the normal life span of 18 to 20 years of normal buffaloes. Payyottu Sadashiv Salian said, Nagaraj was like a son to him, who brought fame to the family. He said he was pained at the departure of the animal which enjoyed good health all along, and was a status symbol for the family.