9th December 2018.
This rekla race is an art and a heroic action of riding a bullock cart. This races are conducted in Tamil Nadu ( Theni, Gudalore Pollachi, Madurai regions etc,. ) and Karnataka. The rekla races are conducted in connection with harvest festivals. In Karnataka this type of races are called “kaarakaa” and same is now called as “Kambala”. In olden days the race Kambala is conducted in fields with plough, from one end to the other end. Latter this was turned to be cart race. The bullock cart will be simple with two wheels and a seat for the Hero / driver, pulled by two bullocks. The bullocks will be tested before admitting for the race. The bullocks only determines the win and loose. The races are banned for some period and now they are allowed to conduct.
The hero who wins the race will get gift money or articles like vessels and some races gold coins too. Unfortunately in some races the hero may die accidentally. A Memory stone will be erected for that hero. Most of the hero stone books do not cover this type of Hero Stones. During our Heritage visits to Thalavadi and South Karnataka regions, we came across this rekla race hero stones. Some of them are written in this post.
CHIKKA HALLI SCHOOL : This Rekla race Pattan kal is the collection of Chikka Halli School. Found highly eroded. The hero is in standing position and holding the rope of the bullocks in left hand and stick on the right hand.
NARASAMANGALA: This hero stone is found along with the hero stones near Narasamangala. The images are shown straight. Wheels are shown small compared to the cart.
KALIYUR: This is a three tier Hero Stone in which the hero is riding the cart. The bullocks horns and the trees on the side of the road are easily visible. In the second tier the hero is taken to the heaven by the Devakanniyars and in the third stage the hero is worshiping Lord Shiva
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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