Nehru Trophy Boat Race
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a popular Vallam Kali held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala, India. Vallam Kali or Vallamkali literally means boat play/game, but can be translated to boat race in English. The most popular event of the race is the competition of Chundan Vallams (snake boats). Hence the race is also known as Snake Boat Race in English. Other categories of boats which participate in various events of the race are Churulan Vallam, Iruttukuthy Vallam, Odi Vallam, Veppu Vallam (Vaipu Vallam), Vadakkanody Vallam and Kochu Vallam.
The Nehru Trophy Valam kali is conducted on the second saturday of August every year and is a famous tourist attraction
Etymology
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of Independent India visited Kerala in 1952. He was given a roaring reception by the people of Alleppey, escorted by the huge snake-boats. Having gone through the tremendous excitement of sailing in a snake-boat Jawaharlal Nehru donated a rolling trophy to be awarded to the winner of the race. The trophy is a replica of a snake-boat in silver, placed on wooden abacus on which the following words are inscribed.
To the winner of the boat-race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore-Cochin.
Until Nehru's death in 1964, the trophy was named 'Prime Minister's Trophy', and it was on 8 August 1964 that the trophy was renamed.
The 100–120 foot long canoes made of a wood locally called "Aanjili thadi" carrying 90- 110 rowers which moves like a snake through the channels (hence the name), is an eye catching sight for any tourist. The Chundan Vallam also has the record as "the biggest water vessel used for sports purpose" .
Karichal, Kallooparamban, champakulam, Nadubhagom, Paayipaadu, Kaavalam, Alapaatu, Aanari, Cheruthana, Aayaparambu,karuvatta puthen chunden,karuvatta sree vinayakan, St. George, Jawahar Thaayankari, Vallamkulangara, Valiya Divanji, Sri.Ganesh, Paarthasarathy, Ambedkar, Mutteal Kainakary, Ellikkulam, Vadakkeaattupuram and Deva's Chundan are the name of popular snake boats who participate in the Chundan Vallam category.
The snake boat which holds the record for winning the most number of trophies is th Karichal Chundan(14 times). Champakulam chundan holds the record for being the fastest chundan in the race during 2014 where it had a Heats time of 4m:33s. UBC Kainakary holds the record for being the club which has won the trophy the most number of times(12 times, including two hat tricks).
Palliyodam, or Royal Canoe of Aranmula, is the other type of snake boat.
Winners
The current hatrick title for continuously winning three times in a row is held by Kumarakom Town Boat Club under the leadership of Raju Vadakkathu Kumarakom Kottayam.
| Year | Club | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Nadubhagam Boat club | natubhagam chundan |
| 1954 | Kavalam team | Kavalam Chundan |
| 1955 | Nedumudi NSS Karayogam | Paarthasarathi Chundan |
| 1956 | Kavalam team | Kavaalam chundan |
| 1957 | Ponga Boat club | Neoplian Chundan |
| 1958 | Ponga Boat club Kavalam Boat Club |
Neoplian Chundan Kavalam Chundan |
| 1959 | Ponga Boat club | Neoplian Chundan |
| 1960 | Kavalam boat club | Kavalam Chundan |
| 1961 | Ponga Boat club | Neoplian Chundan |
| 1962 | Kavalam boat club | Kavaalam chundan |
| 1963 | U.B.C Kainakary | Kainakary chundan |
| 1964 | U.B.C Kainakary | St. George Chundan |
| 1965 | U.B.C Kainakary | Parthasarathi Chundan |
| 1966 | Pulinkunnu boat club | Pulinkunnu chundan |
| 1967 | Pulinkunnu boat club | Pulinkunnu chundan |
| 1968 | U.B.C Kainakary | Parthasarathi Chundan |
| 1969 | Pulinkunnu boat club | Pulinkunnu chundan |
| 1970 | U.B.C Kainakary | Kallooparamban chundan |
| 1971 | Kumarakam boat club Pulinkunnu boat club |
Kallooparamban chundan Pulinkunnu chundan |
| 1972 | Kumarakam boat club | Kallooparamban chundan |
| 1973 | Kumarakam boat club | Kallooparamban & Karichal |
| 1974 | Friends boat club | Karichal Chundan |
| 1975 | Friends boat club | Karichal Chundan |
| 1976 | UBC Kainakary | Karichal Chundan |
| 1977 | Thayankari boat club | Jawahar chundan |
| 1978 | Thaynkari boat club | jawahar thayankari |
| 1979 | UBC Kainakary | Aayaparambu Valiya Diwanji |
| 1980 | Pullingati boat club | Karichal chundan |
| 1981 | No Winners | . |
| 1982 | Kumarakam boat club | Karichal chundan |
| 1983 | Kumarakam boat club | Karichal chundan |
| 1984 | Kumarakam boat club | Karichal chundan |
| 1985 | Friends boat club | jawahar thayankari |
| 1986 | Village boat club, Kainakary | Karichal chundan |
| 1987 | Village boat club, Kainakary | Karichal chundan |
| 1988 | Pallathurathi boat club | Vellamkulangara Chundan |
| 1989 | UBC Kainakary | champakulam chundan |
| 1990 | UBC Kainakary | champakulam chundan |
| 1991 | UBC Kainakary | champakulam chundan |
| 1992 | Sreelakshmana boat club | Kallupramban chundan |
| 1993 | UBC Kainakary | Kallupramban chundan |
| 1994 | Jet Airways | champakulam chundan |
| 1995 | Alappuzha boat club | champakulam chundan |
| 1996 | Alappuzha boat club | champakulam chundan |
| 1997 | Navajeevan club | Alappat Chundan |
| 1998 | Pallathuruthi boat club | champakulam chundan |
| 1999 | Kumarakam town boat club | Alappat Chundan |
| 2000 | Alappuzha boat club | Karichal chundan |
| 2001 | Friends boat club | Karichal chundan |
| 2002 | Kumarakam boat club | Vellamkulangara chundan |
| 2003 | Navajeevan boat club | Karichal chundan |
| 2004[1] | Kumarakam Town boat club | Cheruthana chundan |
| 2005 | Kumarakam Town boat club | Payippad chundan |
| 2006 | Kumarakam Town Boat Club | Payippad chundan, |
| 2007[2] | Kumarakam Town Boat Club | Payippad chundan |
| 2008[3] | Kollam Jesus Boat Club | Karichal chundan |
| 2009[4] | Kollam Jesus Boat Club | Champakulam chundan |
| 2010 | Kumarakam Town Boat Club | Jawahar Thayankari |
| 2011 | Winners not decided | |
| 2012 | Freedom Boat Club, Kainakary | Sri Ganesh |
| 2013 | Harippadu Star Boat Club | Sri Ganesh |
| 2014 | United Boat Club Kainakary | Chambakulam chundan |
| 2015 | Kumarakam Vembanad Boat Club | Jawahar Thayankari |
Other renowned boat races in Kerala
- President's Trophy Boat Race
- Kumarakom Boat Race
- Triprayar Boat Race
- Kandassankadavu Boat Race
- Kottayam Thazathagady Boat Race
- Kumarakom Kavanattilnkara Boat Race
- Kallada Boat Race
- Indira Gandhi Boat Race
- Champakulam Moolam Boat Race
- Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali
- Payippad Jalotsavam
- Karuvatta Jalotsavam
- Mahakavi Kumaranasan Memorial Jalotsavam
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nehru Trophy Boat Race. |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chundan Vallam. |
- Official Nehru Trophy Boat Race Website
- www.snakeboatrace.com
- Nehru Trophy Boat Race Video
- 60th Nehru Trophy Boat Race Website
- 61st Nehru Trophy Boat Race Website
- Nehru Trophy Boat Race Punnamada Lake
