Pulinkunnu Boat Race | Alappuzha, Kerala

The Pulinkunnu Boat Race is another major snake boat contest held in Kerala's Alappuzha district. The event is held at the Pamba river in the memory of India’s late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The premier had visited the Kuttanad area in 1985 and the local residents had organised a snake boat show to welcome him.

After Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991, the residents of Pulinkunnu decided to hold an annual snake boat race in his honour. Kerala's former Chief Minster K Karunakaran sponsored the Rajiv Gandhi Trophy for this event, which is held on the last Saturday of August every year.

All major boating clubs and snake boats vie for this trophy. This race has also been inducted into Kerala Tourism’s Champions Boat League (CBL).

CBL Boat Races

Pandanad Boat Race

The Pandanad Boat Race is held at the namesake village in Chengannur Taluk in Alappuzha district. Celebrated as a water carnival by the residents of Chengannur, this race has been recently inducted into Kerala Tourism's Champions Boat League (CBL). The race is held on the Pandanad Mithramadam Nettayam on the Pamba river. Both chundan vallams (snake boats) and palliyodams (a variety of snake boats) participate in the event. Pandanad follows the tradition of Aranmula Palliyodams. The village boasts of five palliyodams representing five different karas or localities - Pandanad, Keezhuvanmazhy, Vanmazhy, Muthavazhy and Prayar. The event begins with a majestic procession involving all five palliyodams. Apart from the race, the festival hosts cultural events and symposiums.

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Piravom Boat Race

Launched in 1958, the Piravom Boat Race is one of the oldest snake boat races in Kerala. The founding of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race inspired the people of Piravom in Ernakulam district to have a similar event of their own. Conducted on the Muvattupuzha River, this is one of the hardest snake boat races because competitors have to paddle against the undercurrents. Initially, smaller vessels like odi or iruttukuthi and kadathu (ferry) boats participated in the race. In 1962, parunthuvalans or veppu vallams (a type of smaller snake boat) were introduced to the contest. The Parthasarathy Chundan was the first snake boat to participate in the race and in the later years other major snake boats tested their mettle against the currents of the Muvattupuzha River. The 27 sections of the Piravom Municipality is divided into 9 karas (localities) and the races are held under the names of each division. The race begins at Kalamboor Aattutheeram Park and ends at the finishing point near the Piravom bridge. Every year, boat clubs from across the state arrive here to showcase their skills and raw power to win this title, which is now part of Kerala Tourism's Champions Boat League (CBL).

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Kallada Boat Race

The Kallada Boat Race is an annual event held at Munroe Thuruthu in Kollam district. The race is held on the 28th day of Onam, which falls in the Malayalam month of Kanni. So, this is the last boat race during the Onam season. As a prominent snake boat competition in south Kerala, the Kallada Boat Race attracts major snake boats and boat clubs to the event. The race is held on a 1,400-metre track on the Puthiraparambu Karuthrakadavu Nettayam in the Kallada river. The race that enjoys a huge fan following among the local residents is now part of Kerala Tourism's Champions Boat League (CBL).

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Kainakari Boat Race

Kainakari is a scenic locale in the Kuttanad region of Kerala's Alappuzha district. The lush paddy fields and the proximity to various water bodies including lake, rivers, canals and ponds make this village an enchanting destination for travelers. Five major rivers originating from the Western Ghats, including Pamba, feed the massive Vembanad Lake at Kainakari.As a land deeply linked to the waters, its people are adept at using various kinds of boats for business and commutation. This village is also home to the greatest snake boat rowing team in Kerala, UBC (United Boat Club) Kainakari. The team has an unbeaten record of 14 Nehru trophy wins.The Kainakari Boat Race is unique as it is conducted on the Pamba River, unlike other races that are held on backwaters. This annual event is now part of Kerala Tourism's Champions Boat League (CBL).

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