Snake boat races in Alappuzha (Alleppey) Kerala, India
A snakeboat .Photo by M T Cherian
Snake Boat race is stated to be the sport event having the highest number of members in a single team. Usually, a snake boat is manned by four helmsmen, 25 cheerers /singers and 100-125 oarsmen, who row in unison to the fast rhythm of `vanchipattu'or boatmen's song.
The snake boat race season in Alappuzha district begins in June 2008.
The Aranmula Uthrittadi race,
Payippad Jalolsavam
Rajiv Gandhi boat race at Pulinkunnu.
Kumarakom,
Kavanattinkara,
Kumarakom-Arpookara Vanitha Jalamela,
Kottayam,
Mahatma Boat Race at Mannar,
Thazhathangadi in Kottayam,
Kottapuram
Kodungallur
Kumaranasan Smaraka Jalolsavam at Pallana
Indira Gandhi Boat Race,on the Ernakulam Lake during the Cochin Carnival in the last week of December.
Champakulam Moolam Boat Race : On June 30th 2007 . Nine snake boats (chundan) , including popular ones such as Payippad, Champakulam, Cheruthana and St. George would be participating in the event.
Around 30 small boats will take part in various categories, including one for women, a special 100-seated pavilion was being readied exclusively for foreign tourists. This would be apart from the arrangements being made for lakhs of spectators expected to witness the event.
