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| Sunday, 15 September 2002 |
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Vallamkali - the boat races of Kerala by Prabha Nair Nagalingam, Kerala Samajam of Sri Lanka Onam is a time for sports and festivities in Kerala. In this State on the Western Coast of India, one-third of the area is low lying, covered with canals, lakes and backwaters and the people take to their boats and country crafts to celebrate. As the monsoon abates, colourful aquatic festivals are organised along the rivers from the middle of August to end of September. Vallamkali, as the Boat Races are known in Kerala, is the most popular and exciting of all these aquatic festivals and is the main attraction of this harvest festival of Kerala. The magnificent snake boats or Chundan Vallams that compete in these races as well as Churulan, Veppu, Oodi, Iruttukuthi are a magnificent sight. Each year the boats are oiled mainly with fish oil, coconut shell and carbon mixed with eggs. The black mixture keeps the wood strong and the boat slippery in water. All these decorated boats cruising along seemingly like fish on the move is a visual extravaganza.The biggest and most popular of the boat races is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race conducted on the second Saturday of August every year. It is held in the afternoon. This race, very popular with the tourists, in which the magnificent Chundan Vallams compete for the prized trophy is held at the Punnamadakayal at Alleppey. The race commences with a ceremonial water procession. The race last for nearly three hours. The Kumarakom Boat Race commemorates the historic procession of Sree Nararyana Guru by boats on the way to install the Sree Kumaramangalam Temple in 1903. At that time, it was nothing short of a revolution. Backward castes were not allowed inside temples, let alone in an installation. It takes place every year on the day of Chathayam in the month of Chingham, soon after Onam. The boat race begins after a ceremonial water procession. A huge portrait is placed on a decorated two-decked boat known as the Garuda and will lead the procession from the temple. Floats depicting various folk art forms such as Thiruvathirakali, Koladi, etc. can be seen in the procession. Music bands accompany the others. When the procession reaches Kottathodu, the boat race begins. Aranmula Boat Race is a traditional boat race, very popular with the masses. Known as Aranmula Vallamkali, it is conducted in connection with the Onam celebrations of the Sree Parthasarathy Temple at Aranmula, Alleppey.Popular races are held at Payippadu and other places too to celebrate Onam. This is one sport that gives equal pleasure to the spectators as well as to the participants. Onam is celebrated throughout Kerala. It depicts the story of Mahabali the king who ruled the country during a time of prosperity. Malayalees believe that he still visits Kerala annually to bless his subjects and Onam is celebrated to welcome him. |
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