Despite prohibitory orders imposed by the district administration, foundation stone-laying for a kambala arena was carried out at 80 Badagubettu in Udupi on Saturday (Feb. 28).

The ceremony was held under the leadership of Kapu MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty and BJP leader Shubhakara Shetty.

The district administration had scheduled an official programme on March 4. However, the Koti Chennaya Jodukare Kambala Committee had decided to conduct a guddali pooje (ground-breaking ritual) on Saturday, leading to confusion. In view of the situation, prohibitory orders were imposed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. within the limits of 6.30 acres of land reserved for the Youth and Sports Department and the district administration in Manipal police station limits.

The guddali pooje was performed despite the restrictions. Tight police security was deployed as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incidents.

MLA Sunil Kumar and District Kambala Committee’s Belapu Deviprasad Shetty were among those present at the event. Speaking on the occasion, Belapu Deviprasad Shetty said no political party should politicise kambala.