Nehru Trophy Boat Race | Kerala's Spectacular Snake 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.

Other Boat Races

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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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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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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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.

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