Famous Boat races in Kerala

Boat races in Kerala, usually referred to as Vallam Kali amongst the locals of Kerala, is a backwater sport that offers a distinctive view to the travelers who check out God’s own nation. In Kerala, snake boat races occur every year. Vallam Kali or the boat video game was an earlier indicates to settle the disagreements amongst previous kings of various areas. As time passed, these boat races are of fantastic traveler destination. Every year from July to November boat races are performed throughout various backwaters in Kerala.

Boat races are canoe races that utilize paddled war canoes, with around 90-110 rowers on board. They are continued throughout the fall season, the season of harvest celebration Onam, throughout the Alleppey, Kollam, Thrissur, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam waterways of Kerala. One can quickly reach the boat race locations as Cochin airport is a typical indicate all these locations.

Chundan Vallam or Snake boats?

Referred To As Chundan Vallam or Snake boats looks like that of a snake moving through the waterways. Chundan Vallam is the greatest water vessel utilized for sports functions, which are 30-35 meters long. They have its rear part raised to a height of 20 feet, which looks like that of a snake with its hood raised. Each snake boat comes from each town, and the competitors is amongst these towns. The villagers thought about these boats as a spiritual thing. It is stated that the technical techniques of building and construction of snake boats are 650 years of ages. The earliest design that is still in usage is the Parthasarathi Chundan. The other kinds of boats readily available for boat races are the Odi Vallam, Veppu Vallam, Vadakkanody Vallam, Kochu Vallam, Churulan Vallam, Iruttukutty Vallam.

Vanchipattu

In Addition To the Vallam Kali, the Vanchipattu is likewise special with these boat races. Vanchipattu is a poetic type in Malayalam that has its rhythm comparable to the rowing of a boat. It was drawn out by Ramapurathu Warrier, who was a poet in old Travancore. The oarsmen in addition to others sing loudly the Vanchipattu which provides additional energy to row through the backwaters.

The backwaters of Kerala are the best host for Snake boat races and these 8 finest boat races you must never ever miss out on in Kerala.

Nehru Prize Boat Race:

The Nehru Prize boat race is the most well-known boat race kept in Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha. Alleppey is extremely well-known for this boat race. Every year this boat race happens on the 2nd Saturday of August. The Nehru Prize boat race started in the year of 1952 when the previous prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru went to Kerala. As he got impressed by the boat races organized to invite him, it was he who contributed a silver prize in the type of a snake boat to the winners of the boat race. Later on these boat races were arranged every year.

Boat races are constantly a spirit for the villagers of Alappuzha. Each town forms a group, and the competitors are in between these towns. The boats that are 100-120 feet long bring 90-110 rowers move like a snake throughout the racecourse of 1.4 km (0.9 miles). The villagers will remain in an extremely competitive spirit motivating and cheering the rowers.

Karichal, Nadubhagom, Paayipaadu, Kaavalam, Alapaatu, Anary, Cheruthana, Aayaparambu, Karuvatta Puthen Chundan, Champakulam, Karuvatta Sree Vinayakan, St. George, Jawahar Thaayankari, Devas Chunda, Vallamkulangara, Valiya Divanji, SreeGanesh, Paarthasarathy, Ambedkar, Kallooparamban, Mutteal Kainakary, Illikkalam, Vadakke aattupuram, Kattil Thekkethil, Gabriel and Aayaparambu Valiya Divanji are the well-known Chundan Vallams from various areas that complete throughout the backwaters for the Nehru Prize.

In 2019 the Nehru prize boat race was hung on 10th August with Sachin Tendulkar as the chief visitor. In 2020, the Nehru Trophy Boat race will be on August 8th based upon the Department of Tourist, Kerala. To witness this fantastic boat celebration in Alappuzha, the tickets can be booked through online services readily available.

Nehru Prize Boat Race 2017

Aranmula Boat race:

Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali or the Aranmula boat race is the earliest boat celebration in Kerala, that relates consistently. This conventional boat race happens throughout Onam. Aranmula is a town that lies along the banks of river Pampa in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. This town is well-known for the Sree Parthasarathy Temple, which is around 1700 years of ages and is committed to Lord Krishna and Arjuna. The snake boat race celebration is hosted every year as an offering on the birthday of Arjuna.

The Pampa river is the place for the boat race, the banks of Pampa will be complete with a thrilled crowd collected to view the boat race. The boats are referred to as Palliyodams, the special snake boats of Aranmula. They will have oarsmen worn white mundu and turbans, singing conventional Vanchipattu (boat tunes). The boats embellished with golden laces come from various ‘karas’ (areas) over the banks of Pampa. The Aranmula Vallasadya is another destination of these boat races. The ‘sadya’ or banquet is served to the oarsmen of snake boats at Parthasarathy temple properties that consist of rice with more than 45 side meals.

In 2019 Aranmula Boat race was hung on 15th September and in 2020 Aranmula boat race will be on September fourth.

Champakkulam Boat race:

The Champakkulam Moolam boat race, the earliest yet well-known conventional boat celebration in Kerala. It is held at the Pampa river at Champakkulam, near Alappuzha. This boat race begins the remainder of the boat races and is discovered to be the very first race throughout the monsoon season. Champakkulam Moolam boat race is arranged on the moolam day of Malayalam month midhunam to mark the day on which Lord

Krishna’s idol was given Sree Krishna Temple at Ambalappuzha.

The boat races will be organized at various phases for various classifications of boats. The lake will be made more appealing by the vibrant boats covered with umbrellas and there will be artist groups carrying out for Lord Krishna atop the boats.

On 15th July 2019, this boat race was held throughout the Pampa river and in 2020 Champakulam boat race is set up for fourth July.

Payippad Boat race:

Payippad Vallaarattu or Jalotsavam is a three-day water celebration performed throughout the Payippad lake every year. This water celebration is carefully associated to the Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple. The villagers were preparing to construct a temple in Haripad town in which they would set up the idol of Subrahmanya, which they would discover under some whirlpool of Kayamkulam lake. When they discovered the idol, it was given Haripad in a boat accompanied by numerous boats rowed by the villagers. The boat races, hence honor the stories connected to the setup of the idol of Subrahmanya.

The Payippad snake boat race is scheduled to be on 2nd September of 2020, in 2019 this boat race was hung on 13th September.

Kallada Boat race:

Another well-known Vallam Kali or snake boat race is the Kallada Jalolsavam hung on River Kallada at Munroe Thuruthu after the 28th day of Onam. With the thick coconut groves along the banks of the Kallada river, Munroe Island provides an attractive view that brings in a lot towards it. Near the Munro Thuruth and West Kallada, the river has a straight course, referred to as Nettayam over where the Kallada Jalolsavam happens every year. The appeal of Munroe island contributes to draw in individuals in seeing the boat race. The race is scheduled Snake boats and it likewise consists of Iruttukuthi and Veppam boats. The winners will be offered a prize and a prize money of Rs. 1 lakh.

Kallada snake boat races occurred on 16th November of 2019. In 2020 it will be hung on 29th September, the 28th day after Onam.

Sree Narayana Jayanthi boat race or Kumarakom Boat race:

Kumarakom snake boat race or the Sree Narayana Jayanthi boat race is held throughout September at Kumarakom. It is marked as a day to keep in mind the check out of the social reformer Sree Narayana Expert at Kumarakom to ordain an idol of Sri Bala Subrahmanya Swamy at Kumaramangalam temple. He was invited by the individuals with fantastic events and processions. So from the previous couple of years, boat races are hung on Sree Narayana Jayanthi. In addition to boat races, there will be processions with different dance and music efficiencies like Thiruvathirakkali, Theyyam, Kolkkali, Nadaswaram, and Panchavadyam, and so on

There will be more than 1,000 oarsmen rowing boats throughout the Kumarakom lake. Various kinds of boats take part in the race, that consists of the Iruttukuthy, Chundan, Churulan, and Veppu Vallam. Amongst this more significance is provided to Iruttukuthy boat races that have around 50 oarsmen rowing the boat. The winners of the Iruttukuthy boat race will be granted the Sree Narayana ever-rolling prize.

President’s Prize Snake boat race:

Among the well-known boat races commemorated on the celebration of Kerala Piravi (the birth of Kerala State) is kept in November on Ashtamudi Lake of Kollam District, Kerala. The oarsmen consistently row the boats with the busy rhythm of Vanchipattus through the racecourse of Ashtamudi lake surrounded by numerous viewers. The race course of 1250 m begins with the water column near Thevally Palace and ends at the houseboat terminal. The races are classified into 5, one for the snake boat or the Chundan Vallams, 2 grades for the Veppu Vallams, and 2 for the Iruttukuthy Vallams. The winners will be granted a gold plated prize plus Rs.10 lakhs prize money.

On following particular customs the date of boat races in Kerala can differ, in 2019 the President’s Prize boat race was hung on 23rd November.

Marine Drive Boat Race:

The Champions boat league arranged by the Kerala Tourist department carries out champs boat races every year from August to November. One such boat race is the Marine Drive snake boat race. A great deal of individuals collect to witness this fantastic occasion. As Marine drive is a traveler area in the heart of Kochi with its special picturesque brings in a lot and hence the boat races hosted here are rather well-known amongst individuals. The 1.3 km long race course begins at Goshree Bridge and ends at the Marine roadway boat jetty. In 2019 the Marine drive boat race was hung on October 5th.

Apart from all these, there are likewise boat races held throughout various areas of Kerala. Triprayar Boat race and Kandassankadavu Boat race in Thrissur, Pampa boat race in Neerattupuram, Thazhathangadi boat race at Kottayam, Piravom boat race in Piravom, and Gothuruth Boat race along the Periyar river in Ernakulam are couple of amongst them.

In Kerala, boat races are set up by following the Malayalam calendar based upon particular customs and customizeds and hence the dates can differ appropriately.

Reach Kerala Boat Race locations in Alleppey:

How to reach Alleppey from Ernakulam?