The amazing Kerala boat race - a bewitching experience guaranteed.

Kerala, God’s own Country, is a land of boundless beauty. It is well bestowed with natural beauty that makes it heaven on Earth. Be it a rich culture, various forms of art, literature, history, unique architecture, Ayurveda or traditions that have been passed on for ages, Kerala has it all. Apart from this, Kerala is also famous for its various festivals and their celebrations. Boat race in Kerala attracts a lot of tourists from all over the worlds each year. The splendid and breathtakingly beautiful backwaters serve as venue for the boat races. Every year, participants gather in huge numbers from all over the state to participate in the boat race. It not only provides wonderful entertainment but also brings people closer, integrates them and strengthens the team spirit.

History

The history related to boat races in Kerala dates back over 400 years. Kings of Alleppey (Alappuzha) used to fight battles with neighboring regions in boats along the canals. Then, these kings started getting their boats designed to win wars. This was the beginning of boat races. Today, boat races are a huge event in Kerala and forms an integral part of Kerala attractions.

Famous Boat races

•    The famous Nehru Boat race is held every year on Alleppey's Punnamda Lake.
•    Champakkulam Moolam, the oldest and also the most famous race is held along the river at Champakkulam.
•    Payippad Jalotsavam is organized at Payippad Lake.
•    Aranmula Boat Race is held at River Pampa.
The boat races are generally held between the months of July to September. The exact dates of these races vary depending upon the moon’s phase. The Nehru Trophy Boat race, however, is held each year on the second Saturday of August. These boat races are the main attractions of the Onam festival. Held mostly with temple festivals of Kerala, the boat races also hold a lot of religious importance.

For a few months every year, Kerala is brought to life with brightly colored boats that are decorated elaborately and beautifully. The participation in the boat races is beyond compare and the enthusiasm of participants as well as the audience is worth watching. The captivating music, the traditions, the religious ceremonies and the sense of healthy competition transcends time. It is a completely different world altogether. The experience is magical, beautiful and captivating.

Serene Lagoons....Agitated Sea...Virtuous beaches...Yes it all about Kerala Backwater & Beaches

Just like another north Indian, I have heard different versions about the serene beauty of ‘Backwater of Kerala’ but was totally unaware of their pleasing beauty until I decided to visit Kerala personally. 

Each time I read about these lagoons, the urge to visit grew more. All my researching which I did to find the meaning of Backwaters got wasted when I actually visited Cherai Beach - One of the best beaches near Kochi in Kerala.

Backwater of Kerala

The experience is still hard to define. It was unbelievable for me to see a pleasant backwater without any disruption and on the same side, my eyes witnessed the turbulent sea just separated by a thin coral path. From the shore of Cherai Beach, it was clearly visible the difference between a silent backwater and an up roaring beach. 

Cherai Beach which is located just 25 km away from Kochi and situated in Vypin island of Kerala in India is one of the most beautiful beaches in Kerala. Although, the towns to this beach is not that near but one can reach out to them easily as North Paravur is just 6 km and Kodungallur is just 10 km away from this beach. If you are planning to visit this calm and composed beach of Kerala then Indian Southern Railway will be the better option as the nearest railway station named Aluva is at a distance of 20km, moreover, the nearest airport which is Cochin International Airport is 30km far.

One thing which acts as a hallmark and is also common among all the beaches of Kerala is the large numbers of coconut trees. When I looked at the extended coast line of this beach of Kerala while taking a ferry ride along the sea, the trees at the coast line appeared like thick forest of coconut trees. This feature adds up the tranquil beauty of the beach. The long sparkling coastline of Kerala beaches are inevitably intertwined with the state’s tradition and culture. 

Most importantly, if you are thinking of reliving the old memories of early seafarers & traders then Kerala beaches is exactly what you are dreaming off. Although, it might possible that you’ll miss seafarers as they have already faded out, but various types of traditional boats having different styles still could be seen wandering around the Kerala's seas. 

Boat Race in Kerala Gives You a Feel of the Grandiose of Tradition and Culture

Significance of boat race in Kerala is strengthened by the commemoration of the harvest festival of Onam in Kerala. Whenever you are in Kerala during the Onam festival, it will be clearly evident that this festival scores as an important event in the life of people, mostly in the village setting. It is marked with variety of celebrations in Kerala. A major form of the celebration is the arrangement of boat race which marks an historical event and showcases the strength and unity among different community members in Kerala villages. 

boat race in Kerala

 During this event, you will surely be transcended into historical days, probably more than 500 years ago. Origin of the boat race in Kerala is said to be around the backwaters of Alleppey or Alappuzha. In the older days, these were said to be conducted for the entertainment of the local rulers as well as the general public. Presently also, it is a form of Kerala attractions, but the historical values and established traditions make these boat races a much talked about event. 

Plenty of boat races organised in and around the backwaters of Alleppey

In the present day scenario, the boat race in Kerala is said to be conducted in different places, all of them being around the backwaters and rivers of Alleppey. You can choose to become a part of these events which are primarily four in number, while there are about 15 such minor races. If you visit Kerala attractions during the month of Onam, which is the time for people to celebrate the wholesome harvesting season, then you can be a part of these events. This means that you have to plan your trips between the months of July and September, the exact dates of each varying according to different phases of the moon. Nehru Trophy Boat Race is one of the major Kerala attractions among these races which are having a fixed timing during the second Saturday of August every year. 

•    Nehru Trophy boat Race in Kerala is considered to be the most exciting among all the races. As the name suggests, it is held in memory of the Late Prime Minister of India, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, commemorating the event of 1952, when he was welcomed in Alleppey by the impromptu boat race in his honour. The trophy at stake in this boat race in Kerala is the one which was donated by Nehru.
•    Aranmula Boat Race is a two day occasion which is more concerned with religious sentiments of the local people and devotees of Aranmula Parthasarathi Temple, which is held in reverence to the practices of transporting offerings to the temple from nearby villages.
•    Champakkulam Moolam Boat Race is another snake boat race event in Kerala and is also associated with temple rituals.

Boat race in Kerala is an annual affair. For best enjoyment of different Kerala attractions, you need to plan your vacations accordingly. Your trip itinerary should comprise of villages around the town of Alleppey and its backwaters. These are the locations where local communities prepare for their show of reverence for the local gods and the event is marked with show of unity among these communities. 

The Real Essence of Kerala – Venice of the East

The Flavour of Kerala

The real flavor of Kerala comes out in full bloom during the festivals and charismatic boat races. Boat race in Kerala is an experience that one should not miss while in the state. This is a race that is symbolic of the state and you will not get to witness anything like this in other Indian states. Festivals in Kerala too are a grand affair where the entire state is decorated in its full glory. When the manual adornments join hands with nature’s endowments, the result is nothing short of a visual treat.

Boat race in Kerala

The Unparalleled Boat Race

Come to Kerala in August every year, it becomes the cynosure to all eyes due to the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race conducted in the state. Alleppey, the proud owner of magnificent backwaters play host to the boat races. It is home to numerous other boat races too, however the Nehru Trophy race is “The Race”, purely because of the popularity and the hundred odd pairs of hands that manoeuvre the oars in rhythmic fashion. Set against the breath-taking background of palm and coconut trees, the backwaters are filled with more than a dozen teams who stride on their boats with a song on their lips and passion in their hearts. It would be apt to say that the Nehru Trophy Boat Race rings a bell in many Keralite’s mind than the cricket tournaments in other parts of the country are crazy about. These races have earned such popularity that corporates sponsor for the race expenses and the prizes. Next time when you plan your trip to Kerala, ensure you are here during the second week of August, to watch this marvel on water.

Festivals – Congruence of Religion, Tradition and Values 

Two of the main festivals of the state are Onam and Vishu. Onam, celebrated during the month of September is when the entire state wears a floral look that is soothing to the eye. Celebrated as a ten day festival, every Keralite has a delicious floral carpet in front of her home to welcome King Mahabali who visits the state every year and blesses his people. Food and flowers complete this festival. During the tenth day, every home in Kerala enjoys a sumptuous lunch known as Onam Sadhya. Sometimes there are around 27 different types of dishes spread out on a big banana leaf. Sounds tasty, doesn’t it? Vishu on the other hand, is more subtle of the two and marks the beginning of a New Year for the Malayalees. In every house elders bless the youngsters and hand them over some money on a beetle leaf. This is known as Kaineetam. Crackers mark the celebration of Vishu.