2 daylong Katapadi Beedu Moodu-Padu Jodukere Kamballa

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Katapadi, 20 February 2011: The two daylong Beedu Moodu-Padu Jodukere Kamballa that was inaugurated on Saturday, 19the February 2011 at 10.30 am was  in progress when this reporter visited the site in the evening of Saturday at around 6.30 pm. The Kamballa will continue on Sunday, 20th February 2011 till afternon with announcing the winners and prize distribution. 158 pairs of buffaloes from different parts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts are participating in this prestigious Beedu Moodu-Padu Jodukere Kamballa which incidentally celebrates its Silver Jubilee this year.

 

The Kamballa that has been conducted in the Beedu field close to the 17-National Highway near Katapadi under the name of Katapadi Beedu Moodu-Padu Jodukere Kamballa has an interesting historical background. The Kamballa that has been conducted by the Beedu Gutthu since over a hundred years has gained tremendous popularity since the last twenty five years.

 

It was exactly twenty five years ago that under the guidance of the head of the Beedu Gutthu, Mhabala Ballal and under the presidentship of Yermal Rohit Hegde,  a Kamballotsava Committee was constituted that has been conducting the annual Katapadi Beedu Moodu-Padu Jodukere Kamball in a traditional manner with greater participation by the buffalo owners and general public. Over the last twenty five years, this Kamballa gained such response and popularity that the Katapadi Beedu Moodu-Padu Jodukere Kamballa gained a distinct prestige and came to be counted as one of the seven major kamballas in the Tulunadu.

 

 

The gold prizes for the winners in this Kamballa have been sponsored jointly by Rajesh Hegde and Rohit Hegde in the memory of their father, Katapadi Yenagudde Chittaranjan Hegde. Besides these coveted and prestigious prizes along with the Beedu Gutthu other Gutthus in the neighbouring regions, donors, villagers and Kamballa fans from native place and abroad have been contributing to the success of this age old cultural event of the Tulunadu. This year nearly one lakh spectators are expected to witness the Kamballa during the two days.

 

On Saturday, 19th February 2011, at 6.30 pm, as the Kamballa was in progress, eminent personalities witnessed the proceedings from the ‘Chittarnajan Vedike’ including community and political leaders, administrators, businessmen including  Mr. B.R. Shetty from Dubai and artists  such as Raju Srivastava, the ‘TV stand up comedy king’. During this occasion Yermal Rohit Hegde and Mahabala Ballal were felicitated for their leadership in conducting successfully the Beedu Moodu-Padu Jodukere Kamballa for the last twenty five years.

 

The entire area around the Kamballa fields had worn the colour of a carnival with varieties of stalls and entertainment avenues. Men, wowmen, young as well as old were flocking to the arena not only to witness the buffalo race but also to have some fun and entertainment.