Thursday 12 September 2013

One of the prime water events in Kerala is boat racing


For few months during the monsoon season every year, the picturesque Kerala
comes bustling with colorful snake boat races. Hey, don’t get scary; fortunately it has nothing to do with live snakes, it gets its name owing to the shape of the boat which is locally termed as ‘Chundan Vallam’.
A snake boat is a long traditional boat used by the local people of Kuttanadu region in the beautiful state of Kerala. This typical snake boats are 100 to 120 feet long along with 100 rowers. Each of the villages in the region has their own snake boats, which make them proud of, each year the villagers get together and race the boats along the lakes and rivers.
Kerala is a land of backwaters and beaches, with several water sports are connected with the prime lakes in the state. One of the prime water events in Kerala is boat racing which is being organized by a number of social and religious organizations. These boat races are yet another reason that the tourists are enticed toward this beautiful state of Kerala in South India. The snake boat races are the largest team sport in the world, preceded by colorful water parades. Some of the prime Kerala Boat Races which truly are very renowned in these states are listed below:

Aranmula Boat Race
Aranmula Boat Race is a water festival not a competition which is conducted for two days during the colorful festival of Onam. This event is a re enactment of the legendry Brahmin who made a motive to feed one pilgrim a day and thus one day Lord Krishna himself appeared and then the Brahmin was overjoyed and promised to offer 51 measure of rice and also provide all suitable provision for Thiruvona  Sadya (the sumptuous Onam feast) at the Aranula Parathasarathy Temple. But the rivals from other village tried to stop the boat carrying the offerings, but the Brahmin’s own villagers came to rescue on the snake boats.
Since then, a fleet of Palliyodam (a large, comfortable snake boat acclimated by gods and royalty) carried the offerings as an escort measure. Today, the amount of snake boats has reduced from 48 to 26 and it has acquired into a bright water carnival with an arty figure of Sree Krishna is taken out in procession on the lake with children dressed as nymphs and princesses. On the second day, snake boats ornamented with colorful parasols, carrying helmsmen, oarsmen and singers accumulate abreast the temple early in the morning and again move abroad in pairs, creating an arresting pageant. The boat race proper is captivated in the afternoon.
Champakulam Moolam Boat Race
Champakulam Moolam Boat Race is the oldest and the most of accepted snake boat race captivated in Kerala. This race is captivated in Harippad in Alappuzha in Kerala in the month of July. This boat race is captivated with abundant fun, joy and bustle in Alappuzha. This race is carefully associated with the Shri Krishna temple at the Ambalappuzha in Kerala. This boat race is captivated on the Champakulam Lake on the Moolam day of the Malayalam month, the day if the celestial is to be installed at the temple.
Chundan Vallam
The Aranmula Boat Race is the oldest river boat fiesta in Kerala; the south western State of India is captivated during Onam (August-September). It takes abode at Aranmula, abreast a Hindu temple committed to Lord Krishna and Arjuna. The snake boats move in pairs to the accent of full-throated singing and shouting watched by a bustling crowd. In 1972, snake boat contest were as well added to the affairs of the festival. Thousands of humans accumulate on the banks of the river Pampa to watch the snake boat races.
Nehru Trophy Boat Race
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is one of the most of amazing and bustling boat race which is captivated in Kerala. It is one of the boat race in which the people of Kerala attends advanced to with excitement. Thousands of humans of Kerala and from all over the apple accumulate at the Punnameda basin at Alappuzha to appearance the baiter race. The pavilions are set up for the assemblage on the banks and in the average of the Punnamada Lake, the venue of the race.
This boat race is accepted as the Nehru Trophy Boat Race as the trophy for the winners was instituted by the Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India. Over 16 boats in the appearance of a snake participate in this race forth with the assorted small crafts like the Churulan, Veppu and Odi, with a prize for each category. There are abstracted contest for the women too. Before the starting of the race there is a colorful procession of floats, assuming arts and ornamented boats. This race is continued till late evening.
Beside these there are numerous boat races which truly are very worth to visit and enjoy in the gorgeous state of Kerala. 

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