- Nehru Trophy Boat Race
-
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a popular Vallam Kali held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala, India. Vallam Kali or Vallamkali literally means boat play/game, but can be translated to boat race in English. The most popular event of the race is the competition of Chundan Vallams (snake boats). Hence the race is also known as Snake Boat Race in English. Other types boats which participate in various events of the race are Churulan Vallam, Iruttukuthy Vallam, Odi Vallam, Veppu Vallam (Vaipu Vallam), Vadakkanody Vallam and Kochu Vallam.
The race conducted on the second Saturday of August every year is a major tourist attraction.
Contents
How this boat race got the name
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of Independent India visited Kerala in 1952. He was given a roaring reception by the people of Alleppey, escorted by the huge snake-boats. Having gone through the tremendous excitement of sailing in a snake-boat Jawaharlal Nehru donated a rolling trophy to be awarded to the winner of the race. The trophy is a replica of a snake-boat in silver, placed on wooden abacus on which the following words are inscribed.
To the winner of the boat-race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore-Cochin.
The 100–120 foot long canoes made of a wood locally called "Aanjili thadi" carrying 90- 110 rowers which moves like a snake through the channels (hence the name), is an eye catching sight for any tourist. The Chundan Vallam also has the record as "the biggest water vessel used for sports purpose" .
Karichal, Kallooparamban, Chambakulam, Nadubhagom, Paayipaadu, Kaavalam, Alapaatu, Aanari, Cheruthana, Aayaparambu, St. George, Jawahar Thaayankari, Vallamkulangara, Valiya Divanji, Sri.Ganesh, Paarthasarathy, Ambedkar, Pattara, Ellikkulam, Vadakkeaattupuram and Deva's Chundan are the name of popular snake boats who participate in the Chundan Vallam category. Famous Karichal Chundan winning the Nehrutrophy Boat Race in 14 times. (www.karichalchundan.com)
Palliyodam, or Royal Canoe of Aranmula, is the other type of snake boat.
Winners
The current hatrick title for continuously winning three times in a row is held by Kumarakom Town Boat Club under the leadership of Raju Vadakkathu Kumarakom Kottayam.
Year Club Winners 1952 Nadubhagam Boat club natubhagam chundan 1954 kaavalam team Kavaalam chundan 1955 Nedumudi NSS Karayogam Paarthasarathi Chundan 1956 kaavalam team Kavaalam chundan 1957 Ponga Boat club Neoplian Chundan 1958 Ponga Boat club
Kavalam Boat ClubNeoplian Chundan
Kaavalam Chundan1959 Ponga Boat club Neoplian Chundan 1960 kaavalam boat club Kavaalam chundan 1961 Ponga Boat club Neoplian Chundan 1962 kaavalam boat club Kavaalam chundan 1963 U.B.C Kainakari Kainakari chundan 1964 U.B.C Kainakari St. George Chundan 1965 U.B.C Kainakari Parthasarathi Chundan 1966 Pulinkunnu boat club Pulinkunnu chundan 1967 Pulinkunnu boat club Pulinkunnu chundan 1968 U.B.C Kainakari Parthasarathi Chundan 1969 Pulinkunnu boat club Pulinkunnu chundan 1970 U.B.C Kainakari Kallooparamban chundan 1971 Kumarakam boat club
Pulinkunnu boat clubKallooparamban chundan
Pulinkunnu chundan1972 Kumarakam boat club Kallooparamban chundan 1973 Kumarakam boat club Kallooparamban & Karichal 1974 Friends boat club Karichal Chundan 1975 Friends boat club Karichal Chundan 1976 UBC Kainakari Karichal Chundan 1977 Thayankari boat club Jawahar chundan 1978 Thaynkari boat club jawahar thayankari 1979 UBC Kainakari Aayaparambu Valiya Diwanji 1980 Pullingati boat club Karichal chundan 1981 No Winners . 1982 Kumarakam boat club Karichal chundan 1983 Kumarakam boat club Karichal chundan 1984 Kumarakam boat club Karichal chundan 1985 Friends boat club jawahar thayankari 1986 Village boat club, Kainakari Karichal chundan 1987 Village boat club, Kainakari Karichal chundan 1988 Pallathurathi boat club Vellamkulangara Chundan 1989 UBC Kainakari Chambakulam chundan 1990 UBC Kainakari Chambakulam chundan 1991 UBC Kainakari Chambakulam chundan 1992 Sreelakshmana boat club Kallupramban chundan 1993 UBC Kainakari Kallupramban chundan 1994 Jet Airways Chambakulam chundan 1995 Alappuzha boat club Chambakulam chundan 1996 Alappuzha boat club Chambakulam chundan 1997 Navajeevan club Alappadan chundan 1998 Pallathuruthi boat club Chambakulam chundan 1999 Kumarakam town boat club Alappadan chundan 2000 Alappuzha boat club Karichal chundan 2001 Friends boat club Karichal chundan 2002 Kumarakam boat club Vellamkulangara chundan 2003 Navajeevan boat club Karichal chundan 2004[1] Kumarakam Town boat club Cheruthana chundan-Raju Vadakkathu 2005 Kumarakam Town boat club Payippad chundan-Raju Vadakkathu 2006 Kumarakam town boat club Payippad chundan-Raju Vadakkathu 2007[2] Kumarakam town boat club Payippad chundan 2008[3] Kollam Jesus boat club Karichal chundan 2009[4] Kollam Jesus boat club Chambakkulam chundan 2010 Kumarakam Town boat club Jawahar Thayankari Other renowned boat races in Kerala
- President's Trophy Boat Race
- Kallada Boat Race
- Indira Gandhi Boat Race
- Champakulam Moolam Boat Race
- Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali
- Payippad Jalotsavam
External links
References
Categories:- Boat races in Kerala
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.