Onam 2022 Boat Festival: After almost two years of waiting, snake boats have finally come out to compete against each other in the backwaters of Kerala during Onam festival. These snake-shaped boats, also known as ‘Chundan Vallam’, are up to 100 feet in length and move by rowing in the right rhythm. The canoe racing competition which started about 400 years ago is known as Vallamkali. It occurs after the first phase of monsoon in India. A large number of people from all over the country and abroad participate in this event and celebrate with pomp.
Here is a list of the major races to be held:
Kumarakom Boat Race
Date: September 10, 2022
place: Kumarakom, Kottayam District
nearest railway station: Kottayam (15 km)
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport (78 km)
Kumarakom caste also known as Sree Narayan Jayanti is a canoeing competition organized to pay homage to social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. People celebrate the occasion and remember Sri Narayana’s journey to Kumarakom in a country boat in a grand procession from the Sri Kumaramangalam temple to Kottathodu, the site of the race.
Nehru Trophy Boat Race
Date: 4 September 2022
place: Punnamada, Alappuzha District
Nearest Railway Station: Alappuzha (7 km)
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport (83 km)
Nehru Trophy Boat Race is one of the most prestigious boat race. Thousands of people gather to watch the late race on the banks of Punnamada. As the name of the trophy suggests, the first race was held in 1952 when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru visited Alappuzha. Usually it is held every year on the second Saturday of August, but this time it will be on 4th September.
Payippad Jalotsavam
Date: 8 to 10 September 2022
place: Payippad, Alappuzha District
Nearest Railway Station: Haripad (5 km)
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport (115 km)
To pay respect to the idol at Haripad Subramaniam Swamy Temple, a boat competition is held on the Payippad river near Payippad village in Alappuzha district. This year the main race will be held on September 10 after the Nehru Trophy race.
aranmula boat race
Date: 11 September 2022
place: Aranmula, Pathanamthitta District
Nearest Railway Station: Chengannur (10 km)
Nearest Airport: Trivandrum International Airport (115 km)
One of the oldest boat races takes place at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district. The story behind the celebration is very touching. It is believed that robbers from the hills attacked the boat that was sailing with a fervent mind that was carrying the feast to be served at the Aranmula Parthasarathy temple on the day of Thiruvonam. But, when the local people came to know about this, they chased the attackers on a snake boat and brought back the feast. Every year the same scene is recreated to celebrate this occasion.
President’s Trophy Boat Race
Date: November 26, 2022
place: Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam
Nearest Railway Station: Kollam (1.5 km)
Nearest Airport: Trivandrum International Airport (67 km)
One of the biggest races that people enjoy the most is the presidential trophy race. The winner of the race gets a golden plated trophy and a cash prize of ₹10 lakh. The race is held in November at Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam. It is the final race of the Champions Boat League which begins with the Nehru Trophy.
Champions Boat League
This year the Champion Boat League will have 12 races, including a small boat race on the Chaliyar river in Kozhikode district.
Here is the list of champion boat leagues:
Nehru Trophy | Punnamada, Alappuzha | September 4
Thajathangadi, Kottayam | September 17
Pulinkunnu, Alappuzha | September 24
Piravom, Ernakulam | 1 October
Marine Drive, Ernakulam | October 8
Kottapuram, Thrissur | 15 October
Kainakari, Alappuzha | 22 October
Karuvatta, Alappuzha | 29 October
Pandanadu, Alappuzha | November 5
Kayamkulam, Alappuzha | November 12
Kallada, Kollam | November 19
President’s Trophy | Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam | 26 November
Snake Boat Racing Festival is organized by Kerala Tourism to promote and preserve its culture. It started with the Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Alappuzha and ended with the Presidents Trophy Boat Race in Kollam.
Read also: Know about parenting behavior that can be toxic to children and how to deal with it