Vallamkali - the Snake Boat Race is the most fascinating event of the 10 days Onam festival. To promote tourism in Kerala, during the 10 days of Onam festival such events are conducted. This particular event is becoming more and more popular every day. India's first prime minister - Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, was the main person behind the popularity of the race and he was the person, who initiated the trophy for the race too.
The Vallamkali boats are not ordinary boats. They are about 100ft long which can seat about 150 people. Out of the 150, 125 people are oars men and 25 people are singers. The boats are made mainly of the tree of Anjili or teak or Kadama. The ends of the boats are made to resemble the cobra hoods which gave the name to these boats. The boats belong to individual villages and not to any individual person. The men folk of the village alone are allowed to touch the boat and can get into it with bare feet. The boat is regarded high and is worshipped as a deity.
The Vallamkalis are decorated with colourful umbrellas. The boats are repaired annually and a carpenter is allocated specially for doing so. The boats are lubricated regularly with a mixture of different items to keep the woods of the boat strong and to move swiftly in water. The boats are kept ready to swim any time.
Just before the race, a priest offers pujas to Lord Mahavishnu and Mahabali and the boats are launched in the water ready to race. The boat race is held in the rive Pamba at Aranmulla. About 30 boats participate in the event. The race is conducted for a stretch of 40 kms from the hills to the low lying plains. The boat race is conducted on the 5th day of the 10 days of Onam celebrations. All the oars men are dressed in dhotis and turbans singing the traditional Vanchipattu. The rythm of the song along with the splashing of oars in the water gives great enthusiasm to the oarsmen.
The oarsmen display great team spirit which tells all the viewers how important it is to be united and work in harmony to reach the goal. Mistake made by one single person out of the 125 people will overturn the boat. (Though for a long time only men participate in the boat race, now a days even women too participate with great enthusiasm).
All through the 10 days, a boat laden with food - Palliodam sails from Katoormana. The boat that wins the race gets the previlage to accompany the Palliodam. It is a great site to watch the well lit boats in the night which can be easily spotted even from a very long distance.
Every year Nehru Trophy is awarded to the winners of the race that is held in the Punnamada Backwaters.
The Vallamkali boats are not ordinary boats. They are about 100ft long which can seat about 150 people. Out of the 150, 125 people are oars men and 25 people are singers. The boats are made mainly of the tree of Anjili or teak or Kadama. The ends of the boats are made to resemble the cobra hoods which gave the name to these boats. The boats belong to individual villages and not to any individual person. The men folk of the village alone are allowed to touch the boat and can get into it with bare feet. The boat is regarded high and is worshipped as a deity.
The Vallamkalis are decorated with colourful umbrellas. The boats are repaired annually and a carpenter is allocated specially for doing so. The boats are lubricated regularly with a mixture of different items to keep the woods of the boat strong and to move swiftly in water. The boats are kept ready to swim any time.
Just before the race, a priest offers pujas to Lord Mahavishnu and Mahabali and the boats are launched in the water ready to race. The boat race is held in the rive Pamba at Aranmulla. About 30 boats participate in the event. The race is conducted for a stretch of 40 kms from the hills to the low lying plains. The boat race is conducted on the 5th day of the 10 days of Onam celebrations. All the oars men are dressed in dhotis and turbans singing the traditional Vanchipattu. The rythm of the song along with the splashing of oars in the water gives great enthusiasm to the oarsmen.
The oarsmen display great team spirit which tells all the viewers how important it is to be united and work in harmony to reach the goal. Mistake made by one single person out of the 125 people will overturn the boat. (Though for a long time only men participate in the boat race, now a days even women too participate with great enthusiasm).
All through the 10 days, a boat laden with food - Palliodam sails from Katoormana. The boat that wins the race gets the previlage to accompany the Palliodam. It is a great site to watch the well lit boats in the night which can be easily spotted even from a very long distance.
Every year Nehru Trophy is awarded to the winners of the race that is held in the Punnamada Backwaters.
