Alleppey Boat Races, Most Adventures Scenes of Backwater

Alleppey –‘Venice of East’ is surrounded with lakes, lagoons, rivers and canals. The villagers depend mostly on the back waters from transportation to livelihood. Water sports is highly promoted and enjoyed here due to the abundance of water bodies. Being a backwater destination people spend their leisure time in boating and sightseeing in this beautiful city. Houseboats, Motorboats, Shikara and speedboat are main modes of back water cruising. Nehru trophy Boat race is the most popular and world famous boat race held in Alleppey on the second Saturday of August every year. The prestigious event in this boat race is the competition of ‘Chundan Vallam’ or snake boat. Churulan Vallam, Iruttukuthy Vallam, Odi Vallam, Veppu Vallam (Vaipu Vallam), Vadakkanody Vallam and Kochu Vallam are the other categories of boats that participate. Dozens of other boat races takes place in Alleppey and are highly appreciated for the faultless coordination and the energy and spirit it spread. 'Champakkulam', 'Kavalam', 'Karichal', 'Jawahar Thayangari', 'Kallooparamban', 'Pacha', 'Pulinkunnu', 'Nadubhagam', 'Cheruthana', 'Kandangari' and 'Paippad' are the main participators of these races.

Payippad Vallamkali (Boat race) is celebrated in connection with the ‘Prathista’ (Deity placed in the sanctum) of Haripad Subramanya Temple. It has a religious value and is held for three days starting on the ‘Onam’ day. First two days the snake boat processions are taken out and the race is on the third day.                        

Rajiv Gandhi Boat race is held on the last Saturday of August in Pulinkunnu. Colourful floats, procession on snake boats are arranged along with the boat race. The winners are awarded the trophy named on behalf of the late Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Champakulam Moolam Boat Race is held in religious connection with the installation of the deity of Sree Krishna in Ambalappuzha temple. The boat race is on the moolam day of the Malayalam month Mithunam (June – July) and conducted at the Champakulam Lake. The famous Sree Krishna idol was brought from Karinkulam temple in Kurichi near Kottayam to the Ambalapuzha temple.

Neerattupuram Boat Race is conducted during the Onam days in August – September. The iruttukuthi boats are given more importance in this race and 50 oarsmen row this boat where as snake boats have 100 oarsmen. The Ever rolling trophy will be awarded to the winning team in the Iruttukuthi category.

Pamba Boat Race is on the ‘Thiruvonam’ day in the Pamba River. This is a platform where the scattered boat clubs in the locality come under one roof and compete. The sport lovers and admirers brought the Kuttanad people together for this race. The fame of this boat race has reached all over the world and the winners are awarded with the golden Mammen Mappila Trophy.

Karuvatta Boat Race takes place in the Karuvatta River during the Onam days. The water floats and decorated snake boats take part in the procession. The competing boats are made of fixed measurements and the event is conducted systematically. Every year the number of viewers is increased. The boats belong to individual villages on the shore of the Pamba River.

Mannar Boat Race has historical and religious connection. In ancient Kerala the rulers of Kayamkulam and Ambalappuzha had fought a battle in Mannar. Every year a festival is conducted to rejoice the glory of the battle. People gather at Mannar Sri Parabhamma temple to view the special ‘Kettukazhcha'. This is a procession of tall decorated figurines of horses, bullocks are displayed in chariots. It is used to display the martial skills of the people. Mannar boat race is dedicated in the name of Mahatma Gandhi, father of our nation.

Related Posts