Kollam: As many as 48 boats under various categories will compete at the prestigious President’s Trophy Boat Race to be held at the Ashtamudi Lake here on Tuesday. This time, a special trophy in the name of martyr Lance Naik B. Sudheesh will be given to the best team under the Chundan category. A cultural procession marking the beginning of the festival commenced from Anandavalleeswaram and covered Kollam city to reach the venue through Ashramam link road.
Nearly 1000 students took part in a mass Vanchippattu programme led by former MLA C.K. Sadasivan on Monday evening. A special envelope issued by the postal department commemorating the boat race has also been released. The boat race will witness competitions under different categories including Chundan, Iruttukuthy, Veppu, Churulan, Thekkan Odi (women) and Alankara Vallam. The special trophy for the winners under the category of Chundan boats will be given in the name of Lance Naik B. Sudheesh hailing from Manroe Thuruthu here who died in an avalanche in Siachen glacier earlier this year.
The pavilion set up in front of the DTPC office in Kollam, where the boat race will finish can accommodate over 2000 spectators. Special seats have been arranged for foreign tourists, who along with enthusiasts have been camping in the City to witness the boat race, acknowledged as one of the mascots of Kerala. A total of Rs 14 lakh will be distributed to the boats participating in the race as a bonus amount, except for decorational boats. Jerseys in 16 colours for over 2600 row men participating in the programme were distributed at the venue on Monday.
