Click to play videoThiruvananthapuram: The long season of traditional boat races or Vallom Kali has begun in Kerala, starting with the colourful Champakkulam boat race in Alappuzha. This race is one of the oldest and has a tradition of centuries.
"The story says that the local Maharajah was bringing an idol from a far-off place and all the boats of the region escorted him. Centuries later, that ceremony is still performed," says The organiser of these boat races, Professor Nedmudi Harikumar.
The festivities include spectacular water floats, decorated boats and rythmic boatsongs. The highlight is the race of the 100 feetlong Chundan-Valloms or snakeboats. This year again, the Pattara Chundan - owned by the famous Kumarakom Boat Club - won. And it was not just locals who cheered it along.
"We are coming here for the first time from England. We also have boat races between the Oxford and Cambridge Universities back home, but then it's incomparable. We have hardly seen such a frenzy anywhere," says a tourist, Thomas Mullay.
The boat race season in Kerala ends with the prestigious Nehru Trophy Boat race in August. Until then, it is festival time in the beautiful backwaters of God's own country.
(With inputs from R Reghuraj in Cochin)
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