Aranmula Boat Race | A Spectacular Snake boat Spectacle in Kerala

The Aranmula Boat Race in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district is a singularly spectacular snake boat race unlike any other in Kerala. Held on the Uthrittathi day in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August-September), this event is a cultural extravaganza rooted in Aranmula's rich history and traditions. The legends and stories associated with the origins of this race make this race an unmissable thrill ride for residents and visitors alike.

The race is closely associated with the rituals of the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. It's believed that all snake boats and rowers receive special blessings for participating in the race. A famous ritual held during the festival is the Aranmula Valla Sadya (feast on a boat). This follows the story of a rich brahmin, the Bhattathiri of Kattoor Mangadu Illam, who dreamt of Lord Krishna ordering him to serve a sadya (traditional Kerala feast) at the Aranmula Temple. That year onwards, Bhattathiri began bringing sadya on a boat known as the Thiruvonathoni to the temple.

Thiruvonathoni's arrival is a spectacle in itself with a host of snake boats accompanying it. This recreates the time when the Bhattathiri and the Thiruvonathoni were saved from bandits by local residents on snake boats.

Unlike other snake boat races in Kerala, the Aranmula Boat Race is not held on chundan vallams. A special type of snake boats called Palliyodams, dedicated to the temple's deity Lord Parhasarathy, compete in the race. The Aranmula Boat Race also has its own unique vanchippattu (boat songs) set to the Eastern vanchippattu style. The Palliyodams are categorised as A and B grades and the race is held on the Pamba river.

Other Boat Races

Neerattupuram Boat Race

Held on the Pamba River every year, the Uthradam Thirunal Neerattupuram Boat Race is conducted on Thiruvonam day. The boat race was founded in 1957 by a group of youngsters from Neerattupuram Library and Union Library. Also known as the Pamba water festival, the race is held on a 1km track at the Neerattupuram Water Stadium.An interesting aspect about this race is that it happens on the border of two districts - Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta. The north and east portion of the track is in Pathanamthitta while the south and west sides are in Alappuzha.The track is narrow and only three snake boats could race at a time. So, in the initial years, only veppu vallams (small snake boats) competed in the event for the Pulikeezhu Pampa Sugar Factory Trophy. Later, snake boats entered the race. Today, competitors vie for the Mamman Mappila Trophy, instituted by the Malayala Manorama Group.The race is currently managed by the Pamba Race Club founded by Kuttanad farmers in 1957.

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Nehru Trophy Boat Race

The Nehru Trophy or the Prime Minister's Trophy is like the Oscar of snake boat racing. Every boat racing club and every snake boat owner dreams of lifting this coveted cup every year. Held every year at the Punnamada backwaters in Alappuzha, the championship's origins trace back to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's state visit to Kerala in 1952. An exhibition boat race was held on December 22, 1952 to honour the premier's visit to Alappuzha. Nehru was so excited with the spectacle that he broke protocol and rode on the winning boat - the Nadubhagam Chundan - to Alappuzha city.After returning to Delhi, Nehru sent a silver trophy with his autograph and it was decided that the boat race would be held every year. The championship was later renamed as the Prime Minister's Trophy, but the event is still popular as the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.The first official Nehru Trophy Boat Race was held at Kainakari Meenappilli backwaters in 1954. Kavalam Chundan was the winner in the inaugural event. But adverse conditions led to the cancellation of this venue after this race. The organisers earmarked a 1,380-metre track on the Punnamada lake, making it the permanent venue for the event.The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is counted among Kerala's most celebrated sporting and cultural events, which attracts tourists from across the world. The race was inducted into Kerala Tourism's ambitious Champions Boat League (CBL). The season kickstarts with the Nehru Trophy race.

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Payippad Boat Race

The Payippad Boat Race is a grand spectacle that has a unique place in Kerala’s water festivals. This is a three-day gala, a celebration that blends religion, culture and sportsmanship in a way that only Kerala can. The track is on Achankovil river in Payippad, a village in Kerala’s Alappuzha district. The race is organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board.Like many of the water festivals in the state, the Payippad Boat Race is linked to a religious occurrence. According to local lore, the priest of a Muruga temple named Keezhthrikkovil in Harippad dreamt that there is an idol of Lord Subrahmanyan beneath a whirlpool on Kayamkulam lake. The dream proved to be true and the retrieved idol was dedicated to the Harippad temple.The procession carrying the idol was welcomed at Payippad on the way to Harippad. The idol was kept at Aranazhika Nelpurakadavu until the Harippad temple’s renovations were over. After the works were completed, the idol was taken to Harippad and dedicated to the temple. The Payippad Boat Race is conducted in memory of this event.Thiruvonam is the first day of the event. Competing Chundan vallams (snake boats) will gather at Aranazhika Nelpurakadavu and proceed towards the Harippad temple singing vanchipattu (boat songs). The race begins in the afternoon. Colourful water processions are held on Avittam, the second day. And the exciting final race is held on Chathayam, the third day.The boat race is not limited to snake boats. There are competitions for other indigenous boats like iruttukuthi, veppu and churulan.

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Champakkulam Boat Race

The Champakulam Boat Race in Kerala's Alappuzha district kicks off the snake boat season in Kerala every year. The race is held with great fervor on the Champakulam river, an extension of the Pamba river. The origins of the Champakulam Boat Race dates back to four centuries making it the oldest event in this category. It is connected to the re-dedication of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple during the reign of the Chempakasery dynasty. As the idol in the temple was found to be impure, a suitable replacement was found at the Kurichi Karikkulam Parthasarathy Temple. The king ordered his minister and the team accompanying the idol to halt at the Mappilassery family in Champakulam to avert the attack of bandits. The next morning the king himself came to Mappilassery and the idol was taken to Ambalappuzha with the accompaniment of a grand procession. The Champakulam Boat Race is held to commemorate this procession. Every year, a team from Ambalappuzha comes to Mappilassery carrying palpayasam, a famous dessert prepared at the Ambalappuzha temple. Special prayers and rituals are held before the race begins. In 1927, the Champakulam Boat Race was inaugurated by the Travancore Diwan M E Watts. In 1952, the last king of the Travancore royal family, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, came to watch the race. He instituted the Rajapramukhan Trophy. Major chundan vallams (snake boats) and boat clubs vie for this trophy every year on the Champakulam river.

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