Snake
Boat Races Of Kerala
Welcome to 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 the 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.
A calendar of the snake boat races of Kerala from August 2007 to September 2007,with
a detailed description of four of the oldest and most important events -
Champakulam
Moolam Boat Race - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Aranmula
Uthrattadi Vallamkali- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Payippad
Jalotsavam - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Nehru
Trophy Boat Race - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Other
boat races held during Onam (August/September): » ATDC
Boat Race, Alappuzha
» Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race,
Pulinkunnu
» Neerettupuram Boat Race
»
Kumarakom Boat Race
» Karuvatta Boat Race
»
Kavanattinkara Boat Race
» Kumarakom Arpookara Vanitha
Jalamela
» Kottayam Mahatma Boat Race, Mannar
»
Thazhathangadi Boat Race,Kottayam
» Kottapuram Boat
Race,
» Kodungallur and Kumaranasan Smaraka
Jalotsavam, Pallana.
» The Indira Gandhi Boat Race is
held on the Ernakulam Lake during the Cochin Carnival in the last week of
December.
The Department of Tourism
makes special arrangements for guests to watch these events, on prior
request.