Rowing To The Race’s Rhythm – Snake Boat Races In Kerala
The boat racing season in Kerala which is slated to start on July 6, has already begun celebrations. More than 100 oarsmen man the snake boat that slices through the backwaters like a needle. The races take place in the districts of Ernakulam, Alleppey, Kollam and Kottayam.
The boat race which will mark the beginning tomorrow will begin with nine snake boats at Champakulam, 25km from Alleppey. The Rajiv Gandhi Trophy Boat Race will follow next month at Pulinkunnu on August 22. After that the Aranmula Uthiritadhi boat race will be conducted on September 6.
The oarsmen’s rowing is controlled by the cheerers’ vanchipattu, the song whose beats and rhythm is kept up by the oarsmen. People from all over the state, locals and tourists flock to watch the boat races. You can see women and children enthusiastically cheering them on. The races are followed by traditional celebrations and joyous bursting of crackers. Travellers can get a close view of the area’s people and their ways of life.
Other popular races are Erapuzha Chathayam Boat Race, Karuvatta Boat Race, Mannar Boat Race, Nehru Trophy Boat Race, Payippad Jalolsavam, Neerattupuram Boat Race and the Santosh Trophy Race.
