The annual boat racing season in Kerala began with the Champakulam Moolam Boat Race on 3 July.
KTBC Snakeboat during heat race (supplied/Boat Race Club)
The torrential monsoon showers failed to dampen the spirit as snake boats darted through the sheet of rain with oars splashing in rhythm with the vanchipattu, or boat song.
Boats, especially snake boats, are part of the state’s identity which it protects with a fierce, indomitable spirit, that has caught the world’s attention, including that of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club Limited — referred to merely as “the Club” — that organises the Wimbledon.
Wimbledon released a poster featuring Kerala’s famed boat races, coinciding with the first race of the season on Monday, 3 July.
To celebrate the boat racing season — or the #BackwaterGrandPrix as Wimbledon exclaimed, Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and others put down their tennis racquets and took up the oars to steer a Churulan vallam, or a boat with rolled tips.
Kerala 🤝 London
Ready for the annual boat race! Who will be lifting The 2023 Wimbledon Championships 🏆? #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/RXFFK82Blf
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2023
A sea of umbrellas opened under the greyish-dark skies on either bank of the Pampa river at Champakulam in Kuttanad, 2.2 metres below sea level. The electrified atmosphere defied the rains, as boats participating in the annual Champakulam Moolam Boat Race darted through the water and the resilient crowd cheered on.
The rain, seemingly determined to test their resolve, couldn’t dampen the spirits of thousands gathered to embrace the centuries-old custom, ensuring that the legacy of this iconic event remained unbroken.
The first heat of chundan vallam (beaked boats or snake boats), saw “Jawahar Thayankeri” of the Kerala Police Boat Club and “Divan” of the Pallathuruthi Boat Club racing to the finish through the pouring rain.
The cheering audience and the live, exhilarating commentary added to the adrenaline rush, marking the beginning of the season of boat races in Kerala.
As the boat racing season unfolds, Kerala is set to host a series of boat races in the upcoming months. One of the most eagerly anticipated events is the 69th edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, renowned as the largest and most prestigious of all.
This grand spectacle is held on the second Saturday of August in Punnamada Lake. The race is scheduled for 12 August and it will kick off this year’s Champions Boat League (CBL).
The CBL features evocatively named teams like Tropical Titans, Raging Rowers, Mighty Oars, Coast Dominators, Back Water Knights, Pride Chasers, Back Water Warriors, Thunder Oars, and Back Water Ninjas.
The league is organised along the lines of cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL). It is organised by Kerala Tourism on consecutive weekend.
Though launched in 2019, CBL could not be conducted in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
While a bulk of the races will be held in Alappuzha district, a few will be held in the Alappuzha district, the Kollam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Kottayam districts.
As many as 13 boats, including six snake boats, participated in the Champakulam Moolam Boat Race, in four categories.
Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad inaugurated the race in the presence of Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, Thomas K Thomas, MLA, and District Collector Haritha V. Kumar.
In the finale, the “Nadubhagom Chundan” of the Nadubhagom Boat Club lifted the prestigious Raja Pramukhan Trophy.
The “Cheruthana Chundan” from the Thalavady Town Boat Club came second, while the “Ayaparambu Valiya Diwanji” of the Valiya Diwanji Boat Club secured third place.
The race also witnessed a snake boat, “Thekenodi Chundan”, powered by women from Champakulam panchayat, capsizing during a friendly race. Most of the oarswomen swam to safety and others were plucked out of the water and provided medical assistance.
Before the race, representatives of the Travancore Devaswom Board and dignitaries visited significant landmarks aligning with the historic tradition of the race. They performed the traditional rituals at the Champakulam Madathil temple, Mappilassery family household, and Kalloorkad St Mary’s Basilica.
South First caught up with Usha Subash, one of the organising members of the event and ward member of Champakulam Grama panchayat.
“When the Raja of Chempakasseri, Pooradam Thirunal Devanarayanan, commissioned the construction of Ambalappuzha Temple, an idol of Lord Krishna from the Karinkulam Temple brought to Ambalapuzha temple,” she traced the origin of the race.
“During the journey, the Raja’s men sought shelter in the house of Mappilassery Itty Thommen, a Christian household in Champakulam village. It is said on the way back the next morning, the people of Champakulam and adjoining areas, as well as the priests of the Champakulam Kalloorkadu Church, honoured the Raja and the idol,” she pointed at the harmonious past.
Moved by the warmth, love, and affection displayed by his subjects, the Raja made a momentous proclamation. Henceforth, a water carnival would be celebrated annually at Champakulam on the auspicious Moolam day in the Malayalam month of Mithunam.
“And the Champakulam Boat Race tournament was born,” Usha said.
Every year priests and other delegates from the temple call at the Thomman household on Moolam day, with gifts and prasadam for the karanavar — or head of the house. This ceremony is known as the Moolakazcha.
“It is believed that on Moolam day, Lord Krishna does not reside at the temple, but at Mappilassery house,” Usha explained.
The temple delegates enter the prayer room of Mappilassery House, where along with Christian icons like the cross, and statues of Jesus and Mary and the lamp, known as the Vazhakoombu Vilakku, occupy places of prominence. The temple representatives then light the lamp.
“After these ceremonies, the Champakulam Boat Race commences,” she said.
The rituals serve as a testament to the enduring camaraderie and the harmonious coexistence of diverse communities in the beautiful tapestry of Kerala’s cultural heritage.
