ALAPPUZHA: Tourism minister A. P. Anilkumar will open Champakulam Moolam Boat Race at 1.30 pm on Wednesday in the Pampa River, kicking off the three-month long season of the battle of snake boats that are 120 to 140-feet long and manned by some 120 oarsmen.
Today, around two dozen boat races are held across the state, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR) being most popular.
The Chambakkulam Boat Race, the oldest in the state believed to have begun in 1545 A.D, is being held on the Moolam star in the month of ‘Mithunam’ in the Malayalam calendar. It is also considered the harbinger of the Onam festival.
V. V. Grigary, the senior most boat race commentator, says preparations for receiving boat race season have begun weeks ago.
Snake boats have been smeared in sardine oil for smooth passage through water, the best oarsmen are selected and, under the supervision of the senior most oarsmen, the practice sessions have already begun.
“Around 150 oarsmen representing the village will take the vow to observe strict abstinence and celibacy. Each ward and rich individuals take their turn to feed the athletes on the days of practicing at mass feasts on the river banks,” he said.
Even in the days of untouchability, caste Hindus, Scheduled Castes, Christians and Muslims used to sit in the same row for the feast symbolising the communal amity in Kuttanad.
In fact, the church has a traditional role in the celebrations at Champakulam though the water festival there is associated with a temple legend.
However, 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 will be happening when they visit Kerala.
