Kandassankadavu Boat Race | A Historic Thrissur Tradition

The Kandassankadavu Boat Race is one of the oldest snake boat competitions in Thrissur district. The event is held on Thiruvonam day according to the Malayalam calendar at the Conolly Canal.

The event, which began in 1956, had a sporadic run until 2011. The first race was kind of an exhibition match between two churulan vallams (small snake boats), which was organised as part of the Kerala Day celebrations. The next event happened in 1962 during the Onam celebrations. It ran for six years until coming to a stop in 1968.

In 1977, a few of the organisers of the debut race initiated and revived the event. The water fest went on without a break till 1990. The race was almost forgotten for 20 years until the district administration, Manalur Grama Panchayat and Thrissur DTPC (District Tourism Promotion Council) came together to revive it.

Now, the Kandassankadavu Boat Race is held as part of a 10-day Onam festival. The race track on the canal is 990 metres long, which extends from the Pulam Puzhakkadavu to Kandassankadavu Boat Jetty. Major snake boats and boating clubs compete for the Chief Minister's Ever Rolling Trophy every year.

Other Boat Races

Ponnani Boat Race

The Ponnani Boat Race is one of the most iconic water sport events in northern Kerala. The residents of Ponnani in Malappuram district hail this race as the 'Water Carnival of Malabar'. The event is a major highlight of Ponnani Taluk's Onam celebrations. Unlike the majority of the races, this competition only features country boats of local origin. The Ponnani Boat Race is a major event in the northern leg of Kerala Tourism's Champions Boat League (CBL). Earlier the race used to happen on the Pookkaitha Kadavu, the point where Kanoli canal and the Kanjiramukku river flow into the Arabian Sea. In 1983, the venue was shifted to the Biyyam Lake. The lake is renowned for its scenic beauty and its potential for being a centre for adventure water sports.

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Mahatma Mannar Boat Race

This annual boat race is held at Mannar in Kerala's Alappuzha district. Debuted in 1971, the event's name was derived from Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. The race is held on Chathayam, the fourth day of Onam, in the Malayalam month of Chingam.The race is held on the Nettayam river, which is a part of the Pamba river. The 1km track is 100 metres wide. The race happens from west to east and this part of the river is deep with strong undercurrents, making it a challenging track for competitors. Races are held in all boat classes in this competition, which is managed by the Mannar Boat Race Committee.The winner's trophy is instituted in the memory of A C Thomas, from the Mannar Arikupuram family, who was instrumental in founding this event.

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Aranmula Boat Race

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.

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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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