Alappuzha: Thrilling Nehru Trophy ‘Vallam Kali’ Draws Over One Lac Viewers to Pannambada Lake
Exclusive by Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Alappuzha (RS/CN)
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Alappuzha, Aug 10: The world famous annual Nehru Trophy ‘Vallam Kali’ or boat race was held at the Pannambada Lake in Alappuzha (Allepey) in Kerala, on Saturday August 8.
This was the 57th time the ‘Chundan Vallam’ (snake-boat) race was conducted after the trophy was introduced in 1952. It is held on the second Saturday of August each year.
Kerala, known as ‘God’s own country’, is famous for its rich cultural tradition and its topography which is dotted with numerous rivers and lakes.
These provide ample opportunity for boat races of which this is perhaps the most spectacular and thrilling.
This year’s winner was the ‘Champakulam Chundan’ rowed by the Kollam Jesus Boat club in an exciting final. Of the two teams they defeated, one was 12-time winner Kainakary United Boat Club.
More than one lac viewers cheered the participants as the rowers, at least 50 to each boat, rowed rhythmically with all their might in an effort to lead their team to victory.
To the viewers it seemed as if the rowers were just skimming along the water, with the boats just a blur. The shapes of the boats— with a peak in front and decreasing height along its length—only served to enhance this impression.
Some of the boats could also be upto 100 feet long with the capacity for at least a hundred rowers.
In recent years, women’s teams have also been participating in the contest. This year, there were some foreign women tourists on one of the boats as part of a women’s team and were seen thoroughly enjoying the Indian sport.
“The race in the category of Chundan Vallam is the most exciting where 100 mt long boats with nearly a hundred persons rowing to reach the finish line are in competition, making it an eye-catching spectacle”, said Jayan, a local college student, who has not missed this race for the past four years.
This year’s race was inaugurated by Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi, who termed the race as “close to my family”. Many union and state ministers were also present on the occasion.