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It
is during the months of August and September that
the moist, rain-drenched earth and the glorious
everflowing backwaters burst into a song together,
as over a hundred thousand men and women gather
on the banks to witness a spectacular water regatta
- the SNAKE BOAT RACES. Boat race crew begin to
practice for the race months before the great day.
They live together, eat together, toil together
to work themselves into a smooth, co-ordinated team.
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A
splendid procession unfolds with all types of 'Kali-Vallangal'
or RACING BOATS, led by the largest and the most majestic
of them, the 'Chundan'. Its rowers sing songs known
as ' vanchi pattu ' to the rhythm of the oars - a feast
for the eyes and the ears. The largest of the 'Chundan'
boats, the length of which varies between a hundred
and a hundred and thirty feet can seat a hundred and
twenty rowers, sixty on each side. Like the neck of
an angry snake it curves to a height of fifteen to twenty
feet. The prow is pointed and stands four feet above
the water with its glistening brass embellishments.
The main steerman of the boat stands on the amaram with
specially made long oars. The efficiency with which
they handle the oar is what establishes the speed of
the boat and its balance. They claim that a single strong
plunge of the oar into the water can take the boat three
leaps forward to a distance of thirty feet.
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NEHRU
TROPHY BOAT RACE
The
most famous of these is the NEHRU TROPHY BOAT RACE
on the Second Saturday of August every year.There
are a dozen other Snake Boat Races. The latest addition
is the one in connection with the GREAT ELEPHANT MARCH
held on 19th of January every year. Champakulam, Kavalam,
Karichal, Jawahar Thayangari, Kallooparamban, Pacha,
Pulincunnu, Nedubhagam, Cheruthana, Kandangari and
Paippad are the chief competitors for the trophies.
Large and spectacular chundans glide towards the finishing
line like meteors in the sky with water splashing
violently on both sides like streaks of lightning.
An unforgettable and truly spectacular scene. The
fund of energy, spirit of competition and unerring
co-ordination makes this sport one of the most dynamic.
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On
the boat race day, the Chundan Valloms are smeared with
a special oil to make them glide effortlessly through
water. The crew then visit a shrine carrying the stroke
and largest steering oar with them. And having offered
prayers to the Almighty, they are ready to war with
their fellow men. The air crackles with excitement as
the best of the 130 feet Chundan Valloms, each manned
by over a hundred rowers, fly through the waters at
break neck speed, egged on by the fierce competitive
spirit that marks the event and the spectators lusty
roars.
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Other
Boat Races are
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*
Tourism Boat Race: Connected with Great
Elephant March- 11th January.
* Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race: Pulimkunnu- August
Last Saturday
* Champakulam Boat Race: Connected with
the Asterism "Moolam" of Midhunam, a
malayalam month- June-July.
* Neerattupuram Boat Race: Conducted during
Onam days- August-Sep.
* Kettukazhcha: Chettikulangara- February-March.
* 'Kettukazhcha' is very famous and it is a procession of
tall decorated structures in chariots in
which effigies of horses, bullocks are displayed.
* Pamba Boat Race: Thiruvalla.
* Karuvatta Boat Race: Haripad.
* Mannar Boat Race. |
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