Boat Races of Kerala
Another, unparalleled attraction of God's Own Country.
Another great event as important as the land’s
ethos as the elephant pageant. A sport that signifies
the excellent team spirit, integration and amity of
the people of this backwater country. An occasions
of great excitement that is a reflection of a vibrant
people.
The snake boat races of Kerala. Magnificent fiestas
that brings alive the tranquil backwaters. Snake boat
races are held in connection with Onam, the harvest
festival in August/September. Scores of long snake
boats and other smaller crafts participate in these
events. The largest team sport in the world, the snake
boat races are preceded by colourful water parades.
Usually, a snake boat is manned by four helmsmen,
25 singers and 100-125 oarsmen, who row in unison
to the fast rhythm of vanchipattu (song of the boatman).
Thousands of people crowd the water's edge to cheer
the huge black crafts as they slice through the waters
to a spectacular finish. The oldest of these events
have curious legends and myths attached to their origin.
Myths closely linked to the rustic people and their
beliefs.
The snake boat races of Kerala from July to September
are:
Champakulam Moolam Boat Race
The oldest and most popular snake boat race in Kerala,
and is closely connected to the Sree Krishna Temple
at Ambalappuzha. The race is held on the Champakulam
Lake on the moolam day of the Malayalam month Midhunam,
the day of the installation of the deity at the Temple.
Legends say that Maharaja Devanarayana of Chempakasseri,
as instructed by the royal priest, built a temple
at Ambalappuzha. But just before the installation
of the deity he was informed that the idol was not
auspicious. The king was disturbed, but his minister
suggested an inspired solution. To bring down the
beautiful idol of Sree Krishna - presented to Arjuna
by the Lord himself, from the Karikulam temple in
Kurichi. The minister with a few others went to Kurichi,
met the authorities there and returned with the idol.
On the way back they stopped at Champakulam to spent
the night and perform a pooja. The next morning boats
from the entire region assembled to escort the idol
in a colourful, ceremonial procession through the
lake to the Temple. Years later the pageant is still
re-enacted with the same enthusiasm. An exotic procession
of water floats, boats decorated with colourful parasols
and performing arts greets the spectator before the
race. The race proper is held in various stages for
various categories of boats.
Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali
The two day Aranmula Boat Race is more a water fiesta
than a competition, conducted during Onam. The event
is a re-enacting of the legend involving a devout
Brahmin who made a votive offering of feeding one
pilgrim a day. One day Sree Krishna himself appeared
to him and the overjoyed Brahmin vowed to offer 51
measures of rice and all the provision for the thiruvona
sadya (the sumptuous Onam feast) at the Aranmula Parthasarathy
Temple. Once, the thiruvonachilavu thoni (the boat
carrying the offerings) was intercepted by rivals
from another village, but the Brahmin's own villagers
came to the rescue on snake boats. From then on the
offering was carried by a fleet of palliyodam - about
48 of them representing the nearby backwater villages.
(A palliyodam is a large, luxurious snake boat used
by gods and royalty.)
The event is marked by a colourful water carnival
- an imposing effigy of Sree Krishna is taken out
in procession on the lake with children dressed as
nymphs and princesses. On the second day, snake boats
decorated with silken parasols, carrying helmsmen,
oarsmen and singers assemble near the temple early
in the morning and then move away in pairs, creating
a magnificent pageant. The boat race proper is held
in the afternoon.
Payippad Jalotsavam
The three day annual fiesta on the Payippad Lake,
35 km from Alappuzha, commemorates the installation
of the deity at the Subramanya Swamy Temple, Haripad.
The story is that the people of the village decided
to build a temple with Sree Ayyappa as the presiding
deity. After the temple was ready, they had a vision
directing them to a whirlpool in Kayamkulam Lake where
they would find the idol of Sree Subramanya, which
was to be installed at the temple. Accordingly, the
elders of the village with divers and swimmers rowed
to the spot and found the idol, which was escorted,
back ceremoniously by devotees from the entire region
in colourfully
