Bengaluru Kambala: Sunday at Palace Grounds on roll as visitor numbers surge on final race day
"Cultural unity: No caste, creed, or religion in this Sport": Buffalo owner Ankita at B'luru Kambala
Bengaluru: As the first Kambala event of the city is coming to its closure on Sunday, the number of visitors thronging to witness the historic and electrifying Kambala (Buffalo race) doubled, in line with the expectations of the organising Bengaluru Kambala committee.
Sudeep Shetty, member of the organising committee speaking to the Vartha Bharathi revealed that around 170-180 buffaloes participated in the race. “As expected, the crowd increased on the final, second day. The event is a major success, the race is expected to make a comeback in the silicon city in the next season too. We are very delighted to see such a massive participation. The finals of the race will be held at the palace grounds around midnight.”
Sunday’s vibrant cultural performances featured musical evening by popular singers Arjun Janya, Indu Nagaraj, Shamitha Malnad, a comedy show by “Comedy Khiladi Team-Prashansa Mangaluru," an Oxygen dance team performance, and a live art performance by Vilas Nayak. Traditional performances including, Yakshagana, Atti Kalanja, Pilli Vesha, Kangilu Nrutya and many others caught the attention of the audience at the cultural program held alongside Kambala here at Palace Grounds.
“This sport does not have any caste, creed or religion…It's our land's culture, and people of all religions take part in the race.”
Ankitha, member of Jai Tulunadu Punkedadi and a buffalo owner expressed happiness with the organising committee and stated, “We treat our buffaloes like our kids, they are like god to us. It is a matter of pride that our own Karavali sport has come to Bengaluru. I appeal to all Tulu mothers not to stop our traditions and cultures,it should be passed on to the coming generations.”
"This sport transcends caste, creed, or religion. It is not limited to participation by people of a specific caste or community; rather, it follows traditions and rituals. It is a culture, which is embraced by people regardless of their religious, caste, and creed backgrounds. In our organization, Jai Tulunadu, we have individuals from three different religions, yet we live peacefully, fostering a sense of unity. Our Kambala culture shines as a beacon of hope, overcoming societal conflicts,"added Ankitha.
Meanwhile, a few foreigners were also spotted in the palace grounds who had come to witness the event. Two Swedish citizens, Annie and Tomas, speaking to this correspondent said, “We come from a country where we haven't got so many people, we are not used to it, it's fun and kind of an adventure and we are loving it. It’s important to have such events for the common people to just be happy, and we are also having our happy moments in life.”
Simultaneously, several native Karavalites also expressed a hope for the event to continue in the coming seasons. “We work here in Bengaluru, such events make us feel like we are at our home,” said Sharat Kumar, a native of Badiyadka in Kasaragod.
Another Karavalite, who works in the city asserts that the event has made others aware about our culture and traditions.
The two-day mega sporting event was organised through the collaborative efforts of the Kambala Committees of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kasaragod districts, and the Bengaluru Kambala Committee. The event will draw to a close on Sunday midnight. Various political leaders, film stars, and other dignitaries came down to the event enhancing its grandeur.
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Muslim woman doctor decides not to join Bihar govt job after Nitish Kumar hijab incident
Patna: AYUSH doctor Nusrat Parveen has decided not to join Bihar government service after a controversial incident involving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, despite recently receiving her appointment letter.
Parveen was among several hijab-wearing women attending a government Samvad programme in Patna when a video surfaced showing the Chief Minister allegedly pulling down her hijab in public. The incident sparked widespread criticism and political outrage across the country.
Although Parveen is scheduled to join service on December 20, she has chosen to stay away from the job due to the distress caused by the episode. Her family members are reportedly trying to convince her to reconsider the decision.
According to The Wire, Parveen’s brother, who teaches at a government law university in Kolkata, as saying that the family is of the opinion that she should not be held back for the fault of someone else, though they are well aware of her distress over the incident. Her husband works as a clinical psychologist at a college.
ALSO READ: Bihar CM removes hijab from newly appointed doctor's face at govt event, stokes controversy
The incident gained national attention after the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) shared a video clip of the Chief Minister’s interaction with Parveen on its official X account. As per the report, the video quickly went viral, drawing strong reactions from social media users, especially women, who described the act as inappropriate and humiliating.
The RJD criticised Nitish Kumar’s conduct and questioned his mental fitness in a strongly worded post. The Congress also entered the debate by condemning the Chief Minister’s behaviour and demanding his resignation, while linking the episode to concerns over women’s safety in Bihar and arguing that such conduct from the state’s highest constitutional authority sent a disturbing message to society at large.
Despite the growing outrage and sustained political pressure, there has been no official clarification or response from Nitish Kumar, his party, or the Bihar government more than a day after the video went viral.
