Vallam Kali: Kerala's Splendid & Mesmerizing Snake Boat Races
Vallam Kali: Kerala's Top 5 Traditional Snake Boat Races
Table of Content -
- Boat Races in Kerala: Introduction
- History of Vallam Kali (Boat Race) in Kerala
- What is Chundan Vallam and Vanchipattu?
- Nehru Trophy Boat Race or Nehru Trophy Valllam Kali
- Kumarakom Vallam Kali (Sree Narayana Jayanthi Boat Race)
- Aranmula Boat Race or Aranmula Vallam Kali
- Kallada Vallam Kali (Kallada Jalotsavam)
- President’s Trophy Vallam Kali
- Some Other Famous Snake Boat Races of Kerala
Boat Races in Kerala: Introduction
Boat Race, also referred to as Vallam Kali, is one of God's Own Country's most breathtaking and culturally significant celebrations. It is a popular backwater sport in Kerala. Vallam Kali is renowned all over the world for its zeal, picture-perfect moments, and grandeur. Many longboats compete against one another in the sport of "Vallam Kali" on various rivers and lakes throughout Kerala.
In Kerala, snake boat races take place every year. Boat races are canoe contests in which teams of 60–130 rowers race in paddled war canoes. Throughout Kerala's Alleppey, Kollam, Thrissur, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, and Ernakulam waterways, they take place during the harvest festival Onam season.
When is Vallam Kali Observed?
The Malayalam month of Chingam, that on the Gregorian calendar typically falls in August or September, is when the Vallam Kali festival is observed every year.
History of Vallam Kali (Boat Race) in Kerala:
In Kerala, during a conflict entrenched between the feudal kingdoms of Kayamkulam and Chembakassery in the early 13th century. Chundan Vallam, a war boat that King Devanarayana of Chembakassery ordered to be built, was built under the direction of a well-known carpenter of the era. Consequently, the technical processes used to build these snake boats date back about eight centuries. The Parthasarathi Chundan is a centuries-old type of snake boat that continues to use today.
What is Chundan Vallam and Vanchipattu?
Chundan Vallam: The boats are known as Chundan Vallam or Snake Boats because they move through the waterways like a snake. The largest vessels used for sports, the Chundan Vallam, measures 30-35 metres in length. They have raised the back portion to a height of 20 feet, giving it the appearance of a snake with its hood raised. Each village owns a snake boat, and these villages are competing against one another.
These boats were revered by the villagers as sacred vessels. According to legend, snake boat construction techniques date back hundreds of years. The Parthasarathi Chundan is the earliest model still in use. The Odi Vallam, Veppu Vallam, Vadakkanody Vallam, Kochu Vallam, Churulan Vallam, and Iruttukutty Vallam are some of the additional boat types that can be used for boat races.
Vanchipattu: During the Vallam Kali (Snake Boat Race) festival and other related celebrations, the Malayalam poetry form known as Vanchipattu (Boat Song) is frequently used. The Vanchipattu is performed by the people participating as a sign of respect for its importance in the rituals during Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali. The Vanchipattu is thought to have its origins with Ramapurathu Warrier.
Some Important and Most Celebrated Snake Boat Races (Vallam Kali) of Kerala:
One of Kerala's most celebrated and centuries-old customs is boat racing. People flock to these races in huge numbers to witness these snake-shaped beauties compete in time to loudly sung traditional boat songs. These 100-foot-long snake boats, also known as "Chundan Vallam," liven up the tranquil backwaters. During these occasions, there are numerous significant races that take place.
Below, we have listed some of the most well-known boat races that take place in Kerala. For one to fully appreciate these spectacles, one must see them in person.
1. Nehru Trophy Boat Race or Nehru Trophy Valllam Kali:
Inauguration Year: 1952
Venue of Nehru Trophy Boat Race: Punnamada, Alappuzha, Kerala
Date of Nehru Trophy Boat Race: 12th August 2023 (Second Saturday of August)
Team Members: 64 or 128 Paddlers on Board per side
Mascot: The mascot for the 69th Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR) 2023 is a “Baby Elephant” rowing a snake boat.
Track Length: 1400 Mts.
About: The most renowned boat race on Punnamada Lake, which is close to Alappuzha, is the Nehru Trophy race. The boat race in Alleppey is very well known. The second Saturday in August is when this boat race always takes place. In 1952, when former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Kerala, the Nehru Trophy boat race was first held.
He gave the boat race winners a silver trophy in the shape of a snake boat because he was so impressed by the boat races that had been organised to welcome him. There is an inscription on the trophy above Nehru Ji's signature which says that - "To the winners of the boat race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore Cochin." With the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, Kerala's Champions Boat League always kicks off.
Last Winner of Nehru Trophy Boat Race: Mittu was the official Mascot of Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2022. In 2022, Pallathuruthy Boat Club,Alappuzha had won the 68th edition of Nehru Trophy Boat Race. Santhosh Chacko served as the boat's captain at this event, and their boat's name was Mahadevikadu Kattil Thekkathil.
2. Kumarakom Boat Race or Kumarakom Vallam Kali (Sree Narayana Jayanthi Boat Race):
Venue of Kumarakom Boat Race: Vembanad Lake, Pathiramanal Island, Kumarakom
Date of Kumarakom Vallam Kali: 14th August 2023 (On Sree Narayana Jayanthi, Kumarakom boat races are held annually.)
Number of Team Members: 50
About: Kumarakom hosts the Sree Narayana Jayanthi boat race and the Kumarakom snake boat race. It is observed as a day to honour the social reformer Sree Narayana Guru's trip to Kumarakom, where he went to dedicate an idol of Sri Bala Subrahmanya Swamy at the Kumaramangalam temple. Huge celebrations and processions were held to welcome him by people of all ages. Boat races have been held on Sree Narayana Jayanthi for the past few decades. Along with the boat races, there are also processions featuring a variety of dance and musical performances, including Thiruvathirakkali, Theyyam, Kolkkali, Nadaswaram, and Panchavadyam, among others.
Over a thousand oarsmen will be rowing boats across Kumarakom Lake. The race features a variety of boats, such as the Iruttukuthy, Chundan, Churulan, and Veppu Vallam. More than a thousand rowers compete in a variety of sizes and shapes of boats. Although snake boats compete in this race, the iruttukuthi, which has about 50 rowers, is given priority here. The Sree Narayana Ever Rolling Trophy will be given to the Iruttukuthy boat race champions.
3. Aranmula Boat Race or Aranmula Vallam Kali:
Inauguration Year: 1972
Venue of Aranmula Vallam Kali: Pampa River, Aranmulla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala
Date of Aranmula Vallam Kali: 2nd September 2023 (Every year on Uthrittathi asterism in the Malayalam month of Chingam)
Number of Team Members: 60 to 128 Paddlers on Board per side
About: The oldest and most renowned boat race in Kerala is the Aranmula Uthrittathi Vallamkali, also known as the Aranmula Boat Race. It is renowned for its magnificence and unique past.
Palliyodams are the name of the snake boats that are used in this race. Lord Krishna, the principal deity at the Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy Temple, is credited with creating the design. According to legend, he had arrived on these coasts on a raft made of six bamboos, hence the name of the village, Aranmula, or Six Bamboos.
In 2019, 52 snake boats, also known as Palliyodams, took part in the festival. The rowers are dressed in white mundus and turbans and sing Vanchippattu (a traditional boat songs).
4. Kallada Boat Race or Kallada Vallam Kali (Kallada Jalotsavam):
Inauguration Year: 1969
Venue of Kallada Jalotsavam: Kallada River, Munroe Thuruthu, Kollam, Kerala
Date of Kallada Jalotsavam: 29th September 2023 (Every year, 28 days after Onam, the Kallada boat race takes place.)
Number of Team Members: 60 to 128 Paddlers on Board per side
About: Along the Kallada River's straight stretch, the boat race is held. During the celebration, notable achievers from a variety of fields are recognised. Munroe Island is a good place to watch the boat race. In terms of Kerala's tourism industry, Munroe Island is a key destination.
The winners will receive a Kallada rolling trophy, as well as cash prizes of 100,000, 50,000, 25,000, and 15,000 for placing first through fourth, respectively. Each team will also receive a bonus of 50,000.
Last Winner of Kallada Jalotsavam: In 2022 Kallada Vallam Kali was won by Mahadevikad Kattil Thekkathil Chundan of Pallathuruthi Boat Club (PBC).
5. President’s Trophy Boat Race or President’s Trophy Vallam Kali:
Inauguration Year: 2011
Venue of President’s Trophy Boat Race: Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam Kerala
Date of President’s Trophy Boat Race: 1st November 2023 (1st November Every Year)
Number of Team Members: 64 to 128 Paddlers on Board per side
Track Length: 1250 Mts
About: On Ashtamudi Lake in Kerala's Kollam District in November, one of the popular boat races commemorating Kerala Piravi (the founding of Kerala State) takes place. President's Trophy boat race's inaugural season was launched in 2011 by the Honourable President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil. The Champions Boat League in Kerala always culminates with the President's Trophy Boat Race.
With thousands of spectators watching from the shores of Ashtamudi Lake, the oarsmen uniformly row the boats to the quick-paced rhythm of Vanchipattus. The races are divided into five categories: two grades for the Veppu Vallams, one for the snake boat or Chundan Vallams, and two for the Iruttukuthy Vallams. A gold-plated trophy and an Rs. 10 lakh cash prizes will be given to the winners.
Last Winner of President’s Trophy Boat Race: In 2022, NCDC club and its boat, Nadubhagam, was the winners of the President's Trophy Boat Race.
Some Other Famous Snake Boat Races of Kerala –
- Champakulam Moolam Boat Race or Champakulam Moolam Vallam kali
- Gothuruth Boat Race or Gothuruth Vallam Kali (Periyar, Ernakulam)
- Kandassankadavu Boat Race or Kandassankadavu Vallam Kali (Thrissur)
- Karuvatta Boat Race or Karuvatta Vallam Kali
- Kottapuram Boat Race or Kottapuram Vallam Kali
- Neerettupuram Boat Race or Neerettupuram Valam Kali
- Pampa Boat Race or Pampa Vallam Kali (Neerattupuram)
- Payippad Jalotsavam or Payippad Vallam Kali
- Piravom Boat Race or Piravom Vallam Kali (Piravom)
- Pulinkunnu Boat Race or Pulinkunnu Vallam Kali
- Thazhathangadi Boat Race or Thazhathangadi Vallam Kali (Kottayam)
- Thuruthippuram Boat Race or Thuruthippuram Vallam Kali (Periyar, Ernakulam)
- Triprayar Boat Race or Triprayar Vallam Kali (Conolly Canal, Triprayar, Thrissur)
Vallam Kali Mesmerizing Snake Boat Races Boat Races in Kerala Keral Boat Race Kerala Snake Boat race Snake Boat Race Chundan Vallam Vanchipattu Nehru Trophy Boat Race Champions League Boat Race Presidents Trophy Boat Race
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