Oarsmen get ready for snakeboat race season in kerala

ALAPPUZHA: The tranquillity of the backwaters will be disturbed and the hearts of Alappuzhites will skip a beat when the Champakulam Moolam Boat Race kickstarts at Pampa River on July 11. In the upcoming three months, Alappuzha will entertain the hearts and minds of people across the globe with the resonance of the battle of snake boats that are 120 to 140 feet long and manned by 120 oarsmen. Today, around two dozen boat races are being held across the State, in which the Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR), which is the most popular, was also held.

V.V. Grigary, the seniormost boat race commentator, says preparations for receiving the boat race season had already begun. Snake boats have been smeared with sardine oil for smooth passage through the water, the best oarsmen have been selected and, under the supervision of the seniormost oarsmen, practice sessions have already kicked off.

Around 150 oarsmen, who would represent the village, would take a vow to observe strict abstinence and celibacy till the oars were handed to each of them. Each ward in the village and rich individuals took their turn in feeding the athletes on the days of the practice at mass feasts on the river banks, he says. Even in the days of untouchability this was a feature of the regattas with caste Hindus, Scheduled Castes, Christians and Muslims sitting in the same row for the feast, symbolizing communal amity in Kuttanad.

In fact, the Church has a traditional role in the celebrations at Champakkulam though the water festival there is associated with a temple legend. The boat races have now become the most talked about event by tourists across the globe. The most common question asked by tourists is whether boat races would be happening when they visit Kerala, he says. According to Vinod Iris, a researcher of snake boat races from Karichal, historically and traditionally, boat races were mainly centred arould the districts of Alappuzha, Kollam and Kottayam. The popularity of this event has now spread to other districts like Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur.

Rocha Chacko, an oarsman from Kainakari, said that these days boat races had turned into corporate company affairs instead of local karas or villages. Professional oarsmen are being paid handsomely by club owners. An oarsman gets between Rs 500- Rs 1600 per day. Until September, skilled Oarsmen in Kuttanad were highly sought after among boat clubs. With individuals taking over the ownership of the clubs, the rivalry has switched from Karas to individuals. The training camps and strategies of every team are being designed in a highly confidential manner to avert leaks”, he says.