I have heard my family talk about the Nehru Boat Race ever since I was a child. They discuss the race with much excitement, and watch the entire telecast of the competition.
![The Nehru Boat Race in Kerala. Photo by author]( "The Nehru Boat Race in Kerala. Photo by author")
Post this, there is an extensive review and a long list of could-have-been scenarios. I had never shown much interest in these details or the event itself. I had never imagined I would be fascinated by this spectacle. My resistance was shattered to miniscule bits when I saw the race for myself, for the very first time.
The Nehru boat race, Kerala's amazing race, is the most colourful water sport in India. It's an annual event held at Alleppey on the Punnamada Lake, which takes place on the second Saturday of every August. It attracts thousands of people from across the world and is the biggest competition in this part of the country.
Enthusiastic tourists and locals give Alleppey its festive look. Visitors photograph everything from spices to tea shops as they prepare for the mega event. The lake acquires an importance that is quite unsaid, yet implied. Massive snake boats, along with other boats, dot the lake, turning it into a bejewelled view. The snake boats, also called chundan vallams, form a major part of the visual treat. They are impressive, have a mighty pointed prow, are over 100-feet long, and can accommodate a complete team of rowers that often go up to 110 members. By the way, the snake boat is considered to be "the biggest water vessel used for sport."
The battle for prime seats in the galleries is an early indication that the race day is no ordinary day. A sea of people float around the lake, and a multitude of colours flood every visual frame. A few spectators arrive as early as five hours before the race to reserve the spot with the best possible view. Television crews and journalists are ready with their equipment at vantage positions. The city, known as 'Venice of the East', is the prime focus of the day's broadcast. The ambience is created not just by the incredibly picturesque race, but also by the music, an essential part of the race. There is music and singing from the boats, with enough backing vocals from the crowd. And along with this, hysterical cheering when the race is on. It's a magical atmosphere, to say the very least. And the teams comprising women gather a lot of ground support. Don't let the crisp, spotless traditional sarees — uniforms worn by women — fool you, you'll be surprised by the stamina and strength they display.
Celebrities appear, the crowd goes berserk and amidst all of this, the new winners find their glory. Winning here is not an important thing, it's the only thing. The teams have trained for months to make this happen. They have had diet restrictions, have had to stay away from their families and work really hard in the hope that they would win the trophy. This rolling trophy was gifted by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru after he witnessed this fantastic race. A silver trophy, a replica of the snake boat, with the inscription, "To the winner of the boat race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore-Cochin," finds its new owner. The winning team become the local heroes until next August, when the battle resumes for that coveted place of honour.
Don't dismiss the race after seeing a few videos and pictures on the Internet. No amount of words, pictures or videos can come close to experiencing it. There is only one way to find out why this event is so hugely popular — watch the race and allow it to mesmerise you.
Post this, there is an extensive review and a long list of could-have-been scenarios. I had never shown much interest in these details or the event itself. I had never imagined I would be fascinated by this spectacle. My resistance was shattered to miniscule bits when I saw the race for myself, for the very first time.The Nehru boat race, Kerala's amazing race, is the most colourful water sport in India. It's an annual event held at Alleppey on the Punnamada Lake, which takes place on the second Saturday of every August. It attracts thousands of people from across the world and is the biggest competition in this part of the country.
Enthusiastic tourists and locals give Alleppey its festive look. Visitors photograph everything from spices to tea shops as they prepare for the mega event. The lake acquires an importance that is quite unsaid, yet implied. Massive snake boats, along with other boats, dot the lake, turning it into a bejewelled view. The snake boats, also called chundan vallams, form a major part of the visual treat. They are impressive, have a mighty pointed prow, are over 100-feet long, and can accommodate a complete team of rowers that often go up to 110 members. By the way, the snake boat is considered to be "the biggest water vessel used for sport."
The battle for prime seats in the galleries is an early indication that the race day is no ordinary day. A sea of people float around the lake, and a multitude of colours flood every visual frame. A few spectators arrive as early as five hours before the race to reserve the spot with the best possible view. Television crews and journalists are ready with their equipment at vantage positions. The city, known as 'Venice of the East', is the prime focus of the day's broadcast. The ambience is created not just by the incredibly picturesque race, but also by the music, an essential part of the race. There is music and singing from the boats, with enough backing vocals from the crowd. And along with this, hysterical cheering when the race is on. It's a magical atmosphere, to say the very least. And the teams comprising women gather a lot of ground support. Don't let the crisp, spotless traditional sarees — uniforms worn by women — fool you, you'll be surprised by the stamina and strength they display.
Celebrities appear, the crowd goes berserk and amidst all of this, the new winners find their glory. Winning here is not an important thing, it's the only thing. The teams have trained for months to make this happen. They have had diet restrictions, have had to stay away from their families and work really hard in the hope that they would win the trophy. This rolling trophy was gifted by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru after he witnessed this fantastic race. A silver trophy, a replica of the snake boat, with the inscription, "To the winner of the boat race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore-Cochin," finds its new owner. The winning team become the local heroes until next August, when the battle resumes for that coveted place of honour.
Don't dismiss the race after seeing a few videos and pictures on the Internet. No amount of words, pictures or videos can come close to experiencing it. There is only one way to find out why this event is so hugely popular — watch the race and allow it to mesmerise you.