bengaluru karnataka assembly on monday passed a bill to facilitate the conduct of kambala a traditional annual buffalo race in marshy fields held in the coastal districts of the statethe clamour for kambala was spurred by the success of the stir in tamil nadu for allowing jallikattu taming of bull which led to the state government bringing a similar amendment to the central actread alsohow jallikattu is different from kambalajallikattu and kambala are traditional sports from tamil nadu and karnataka respectively the first is a bulltaming sport and the second is a buffalo race there are several important differences between them heres a handy guide with all the information you needcomedy show conveys the seriousness of kambalatv show participants promote kambalakambala committees and various kannada organisations had held protests at several places against the bankambla in its traditional form is noncompetitive with buffalo pairs made to race one after another in paddy fields which is considered a thanksgiving to the gods for protecting the animals from diseasesover the years it has however become an organised sport with animal rights activists claiming that the buffaloes run in the race due to fear of being beaten which the organisers dismiss saying no violence is involved and that several modifications had been made to ensure that it is an animal friendly eventconsidering the significant role played by the traditional sports events kambala and bulls race or bullock cart race in preserving and promoting traditions and culture among the people in the state and their vital role in ensuring survival and continuance of native breeds of cattle the government has decided to exempt their conduct the bill saidthe bullock cart races are held in north karnataka and kambala in the coastal districts of udupi and dakshina kannadathe prevention of cruelty to animals act 1960 central act 59 of 1960 was enacted to prevent the infliction of unnecessary cruelty and suffering on animalsit recognises the need to exempt the application of its provisions in certain circumstancesthe amendment bill states that there was no extra expenditure involved in the proposed legislative measureamid growing protests for lifting the court stay on kambala karnataka cabinet on january 28 had decided to amend the prevention of cruelty to animals act to pave the way for the traditional sporta karnataka high court division bench headed by chief justice s k mukherjee had in november last year stayed holding of kambala on a petition by the people for ethical treatment of animals peta challenging it in view of orders passed by the supreme court on jallikattuon january 30 2017 the high court had said it would await the supreme court verdict on jallikattu case watch karnataka assembly passes bill to allow kambala