Nehru Trophy Boat Race

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 Vallams (snake boats). Hence the race is also known as Snake Boat Race in English. Other categories of 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 Nehru Trophy Valam kali is conducted on the second saturday of August every year and is a famous tourist attraction

Etymology

People watching Nehru Trophy Boat Race, 2013

Jawaharlal Nehru, 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.

Until Nehru's death in 1964, the trophy was named 'Prime Minister's Trophy', and it was on 8 August 1964 that the trophy was renamed.

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, champakulam, Nadubhagom, Paayipaadu, Kaavalam, Alapaatu, Aanari, Cheruthana, Aayaparambu,karuvatta puthen chunden,karuvatta sree vinayakan, St. George, Jawahar Thaayankari, Vallamkulangara, Valiya Divanji, Sri.Ganesh, Paarthasarathy, Ambedkar, Mutteal Kainakary, Ellikkulam, Vadakkeaattupuram and Deva's Chundan are the name of popular snake boats who participate in the Chundan Vallam category.

The snake boat which holds the record for winning the most number of trophies is th Karichal Chundan(14 times). Champakulam chundan holds the record for being the fastest chundan in the race during 2014 where it had a Heats time of 4m:33s. UBC Kainakary holds the record for being the club which has won the trophy the most number of times(12 times, including two hat tricks).

Palliyodam, or Royal Canoe of Aranmula, is the other type of snake boat.

Winners

Boat Races of Kerala (Punnamada)
A tourist capturing the race moments. Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2013
Boat races of Kerala
Nehru Trophy Boat Race Waiting to start
Punnamada Boat Race

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 Kavalam team Kavalam Chundan
1955 Nedumudi NSS Karayogam Paarthasarathi Chundan
1956 Kavalam team Kavaalam chundan
1957 Ponga Boat club Neoplian Chundan
1958 Ponga Boat club
Kavalam Boat Club
Neoplian Chundan
Kavalam Chundan
1959 Ponga Boat club Neoplian Chundan
1960 Kavalam boat club Kavalam Chundan
1961 Ponga Boat club Neoplian Chundan
1962 Kavalam boat club Kavaalam chundan
1963 U.B.C Kainakary Kainakary chundan
1964 U.B.C Kainakary St. George Chundan
1965 U.B.C Kainakary Parthasarathi Chundan
1966 Pulinkunnu boat club Pulinkunnu chundan
1967 Pulinkunnu boat club Pulinkunnu chundan
1968 U.B.C Kainakary Parthasarathi Chundan
1969 Pulinkunnu boat club Pulinkunnu chundan
1970 U.B.C Kainakary 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 Kainakary Karichal Chundan
1977 Thayankari boat club Jawahar chundan
1978 Thaynkari boat club jawahar thayankari
1979 UBC Kainakary 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, Kainakary Karichal chundan
1987 Village boat club, Kainakary Karichal chundan
1988 Pallathurathi boat club Vellamkulangara Chundan
1989 UBC Kainakary champakulam chundan
1990 UBC Kainakary champakulam chundan
1991 UBC Kainakary champakulam chundan
1992 Sreelakshmana boat club Kallupramban chundan
1993 UBC Kainakary Kallupramban chundan
1994 Jet Airways champakulam chundan
1995 Alappuzha boat club champakulam chundan
1996 Alappuzha boat club champakulam chundan
1997 Navajeevan club Alappat Chundan
1998 Pallathuruthi boat club champakulam chundan
1999 Kumarakam town boat club Alappat 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[1] Kumarakam Town boat club Cheruthana chundan
2005 Kumarakam Town boat club Payippad chundan
2006 Kumarakam Town Boat Club Payippad chundan,
2007[2] Kumarakam Town Boat Club Payippad chundan
2008[3] Kollam Jesus Boat Club Karichal chundan
2009[4] Kollam Jesus Boat Club Champakulam chundan
2010 Kumarakam Town Boat Club Jawahar Thayankari
2011 Winners not decided
2012 Freedom Boat Club, Kainakary Sri Ganesh
2013 Harippadu Star Boat Club Sri Ganesh
2014 United Boat Club Kainakary Chambakulam chundan
2015 Kumarakam Vembanad Boat Club Jawahar Thayankari

Other renowned boat races in Kerala

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chundan Vallam.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, March 16, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.