Mysuru, Oct. 18 -- Slushy tracks echo with whistles, cheers as buffalo pairs charge forward

For the first time in Mysuru Dasara's history, Kambala, the traditional buffalo race of coastal Karnataka, was held as part of the festivities this year.

Organised by the Dasara Kambala Sub-Committee at the Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) Grounds near VTU Regional Centre on the Outer Ring Road at Sathagalli, the event was inaugurated by District in-Charge Minister Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who flagged off the races on the two tracks, 'Vijaya Kare' and 'Dashami Kare.'

Thousands of people thronged the venue to witness the spectacle. Each pair of buffaloes was accompanied by 10 to 15 handlers, who sprinted alongside the animals and restrained ...