Mangaluru : The Karnataka State Kambala Association is set to commence its 2025-2026 Kambala season on November 15, 2025, with the first of 25 scheduled races taking place at Panapila. The season’s competitive events will primarily be held on Saturdays, concluding on April 25, 2026, at Badagabettu, with the sole exception being the Ballamanja race scheduled for Sunday, December 7. A notable change this year is the extension of the event timing, with each Kambala now slated to last for 30 hours, an increase from the previous 24 hours, as confirmed by association president Belapu Deviprasad Shetty.
This season introduces key regulatory changes, most significantly an animal welfare measure mandating that buffaloes aged below three years will not be allowed to participate in any race, following a directive from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. Furthermore, the season marks a new institutional era for the sport, as the association was officially recognized as a State sports institution by the Sports Authority of Karnataka on October 7 of this year. This recognition requires that all events adhere to the Authority’s guidelines, which is a prerequisite for local organisers to receive a government grant. Symbolizing this new standard, a white flag featuring the emblems of Kambala, Tulu Nadu, and the Karnataka government will be hoisted before the start of every event.
Key dates within the calendar include the Mangaluru Kambala scheduled for December 27 and the Mulki Kambala on December 20. However, the date for the Mulki event remains fluid and may be adjusted based on the final decision of the local organisers. The competition will be categorized into six formats: hagga hiriya, hagga kiriya, naegilu hiriya, naegilu kiriya, kane halage, and adda halage.
Regarding other scheduled events, association secretary Vijaya Kumar Kanginamane indicated that Kambalas in Bengaluru and Shivamogga are unlikely to be held this season as they haven’t been listed by the association. The status of the Pilikula Kambala is also uncertain due to an ongoing dispute being heard by the Karnataka High Court. Separately, the traditional, non-racing “Kodi Kambalas,” which are intrinsically linked to local farming activities, began in the coastal belt on October 17 and will continue for about a month, with approximately 100 to 125 of these events occurring annually across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
Kambala Dates :
September 15, 2025 – Panapila – Yuvaraj Jain. November 22, 2025 – Kodange – Sandeep Shetty, November 29, 2025 – Kakkepadavu – Shivananda, December 06, 2025 – Hokkadi – Rashmith Shetty, December 07, 2025 – Ballamanja – Harsha Sapigethaya, December 13, 2025 – Baradi – J. Ballal, December 20, 2025 – Mulki – Gowtham, December 27, 2025 – Mangalore – Brijesh Chowta, January 03, 2026 – Miyar – Jeevandas Adyanthaya, January 10, 2026 – Naringana – Prashanth Kajava, January 17, 2026 – Adve – Sukumar Shetty, January 24, 2026 – Moodbidri – Ranjith, January 31, 2026, Aikala – Chitharanjan Bhandary, February 14, 2026 – Jeppu – Anil Shetty, February 21, 2026 – Vamanjoor – Naveen Alva, February 28, 2026 – Ermal – Rohith Hegde, March 07, 2026 – Bantwala – Piyush Rodrigues, March 15, 2026 – Bangadi – Ranjan Gowda, March 21, 2026 – Venuru – Nithesh, April 04, 2026 – Gurupura – Vinay Kumar Shetty, April 11, 2026 – Balkunje – Mallika Yashavanth Shetty
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