Kumarakom Boat Race | A Spiritual and Cultural Celebration

Kumarakom Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi Boat Race

This annual race is held in the honour of Kerala's great social reformer and spiritual leader Sree Narayana Guru's visit to Kumarakom in Kottayam district.

Guru was taken to Kumarakom from Alappuzha via boat accompanied by a big procession for the function in 1903. He dedicated the idol, which was a picture of Lord Subrahmanyan, at the Sri Kumarakamangalam Temple. The annual Kumarakom Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi Boat Race is held as a gala to commemorate the Guru's grand arrival in 1903. The competition began in 1952 and is held on a 900-metre track at Kottathodu.

The race begins after a grand water procession in decorated boats carrying an idol of Lord Subrahmanyan and a picture of Sree Narayana Guru. Iruttukuthis (smaller snake boats) are more prominent in this event than chundan vallams (snake boats). The race enjoys huge participation with over 1,000 rowers matching their skills aboard major snake boats and Iruttukuthis.

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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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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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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