Nehru Trophy Boat Race
Encyclopedia
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 Vallam
s (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.
, 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.
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.
Vallam Kali
Vallam Kali literally means boat race in Malayalam. It is the traditional boat race in Kerala It is mainly conducted during the season of the harvest festival Onam in autumn....
held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha
Alappuzha
Alappuzha , also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. As per 2001 census Alleppey is the sixth largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029. Alleppey is situated to the south of Kochi and north of Trivandrum...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. 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 Vallam
Chundan Vallam
Chundan Vallam , known to the outside world as Kerala snake boats, are one of the icons of Kerala culture used in the Vallamkali -Architecture:...
s (snake boats). Hence the race is also known as Snake Boat Race in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. 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.
How this boat race got the name
Jawaharlal NehruJawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
, 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
Aranmula
Aranmula is about 128 km from Trivandrum, capital city of Kerala, the south western state in India. It is situated on the banks of the river Pampa. Traditions, cultural variations, traditional village life, sceneries are unique for Aranmula. It is a suburb of Kozhencherry in Pathanamthitta...
, 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 Club | Neoplian Chundan Kaavalam Chundan |
| 1959 | 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 club | Kallooparamban chundan Pulinkunnu chundan |
| 1972 | 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 | 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 | Kumarakam town boat club | Payippad chundan |
| 2008 | Kollam Jesus boat club | Karichal chundan |
| 2009 | Kollam Jesus boat club | Chambakkulam chundan |
| 2010 | Kumarakam Town boat club | Jawahar Thayankari |
Other renowned boat races in Kerala
- President's Trophy Boat RacePresident's Trophy Boat RaceThe President's Trophy Boat Race is a popular Vallam Kali held on the Ashtamudi lake on Atham day which marks the start of Onam Celebrations in Indian state of Kerala....
- Kallada Boat RaceKallada Boat RaceThe Kallada Jalotsavam is a popular Vallam Kali held on the Kallada River at Munroe Thuruthu on 28 days after Onam in Indian state of Kerala.The boat race is conducted along the straight portion of Kallada River...
- Indira Gandhi Boat RaceIndira Gandhi Boat RaceThe Indira Gandhi Boat Race is an annual boat race conducted in Kochi, Kerala, India. It is conducted in the last week of December in the Lake of Kochi, by the Department of Tourism of the state of Kerala. This boat race is one of the most popular vallam Kali in Kerala...
- Champakulam Moolam Boat RaceChampakulam Moolam Boat RaceThe Champakulam Moolam Boat Race is the oldest and most popular vallam kali in Kerala state of south India. The race is held on the river Pampa on Moolam day of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple.-The legend:It is said...
- Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali
- Payippad Jalotsavam