Kambala!

After seeing the incredible Mysore palace, and trekking the mountains in Coorg, I headed to Mangalore, on the coast of the Arabian Sea, to hunt down a local sport called Kambala.

This consists of water buffalo racing down muddy tracks, with a guy holding on behind, lashing and screeching the bull on, running as fast as he can to keep up with it. It developped after farmers would race their buffaloes home after work in the paddy fields.

After some research and some bus rides, I arrived at the Kambala track, basically two long ditches filled with muddy water, and watched as the farmers, each with coloured turbans to indicate their teams, presented their animals to the audience, while people placed bets, and a sort of marching band provided some tunes.

There are different types of Kambala. For some races, the whip-man will surf on a little plank of wood attached behind the buffalo, others, it is the height at which the water will splash, rather than the speed of the animal that counts.

The experience was thrilling (just look at the pictures) and, having been interviewed for two newspapers and two TV stations at the site, I really got the feeling I was seeing something special and unique.

I'm in Kodaikanal at the moment, more posts coming soon!