Kambala is traditional slush track buffalo race that is held annually in coastal districts of Karnataka to entertain rural people of the area. Slushy/marshy paddy field track is used for Kambala. The sports season generally starts in November and lasts till March. The contest generally takes place between two pairs of buffaloes, each pair race in two separate wet rice fields tracks, controlled by a whip-lashing farmer.

Kambala issue:-

1. The Karnataka HC had stayed these traditional sports in view of Supreme Court’s ban on jallikattu, a traditional bull taming sport of Tamil Nadu.
2. The Supreme Court has refused to pass an interim order to stay Ordinance allowing kambala, the traditional buffalo slush track race in Karnataka.
3. Karnataka Assembly had passed an ordinance Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2017 in 2017 to allow Kambala to circumvent ban imposed by Karnataka High Court.
4. The ordinance had received Central Government (Ministry of Law and Justice) and Presidential assent.

Why are activists opposing Kambala:-

1. Authorities contend that beating buffaloes also violated provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, claiming that buffaloes run because of the fear of being beaten.
2. PETA has opposed the upcoming Kambala festival on grounds of cruelty to animals.
3. Animal rights activists have opposed the sport saying that tying the noses of the buffaloes with a rope and using a whip amounts to cruelty. Sometimes accidents happen which can threaten life of these animals and even people who participate in such events.
4. Experts also stated that unlike horses, bull are not naturally suitable for running.

However many are favouring it as well :-

Traditional customs:-

• The common underlying factor is the fact that most of these are rooted in celebrating and honouring agriculture: as a festival of expressing gratitude to the various forces of nature that give us food.
• Some agriculturists race their buffaloes as a means to thank god for protecting their animals from disease.
• A village spends almost an entire year planning such events, and the animals are carefully fed, tended, and the rest. The actual race is only a small part of an overall whole of a culture built upon nurturing and preserving cattle.

Economical:-
The event is also a massive fair with plenty of options for shopping, food, etc, which immensely boosts the local economies.For instance, a good Kambala event is attended by 20,000 or more people during the season.

Community relationships:-
At the most fundamental level of humanity, sports like these are great outlets for channelising energy, which is expressed in promoting competitive spirit and forging and strengthening community relationships.

Animal friendly:-
The organisers said violence on animals is not practised in the region and so many modifications have taken place in the recent past to make the event animal friendly.

Conclusion:-

Proper amendments need to be made to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act so that the views of multiple stakeholders are considered.