The tranquil backwaters of Kuttanad are all set to burst into life and send boat race buffs into raptures. Champakulam Moolam ‘vallam kali’ (boat race), the season opener, will be held on the Pampa river at Champakulam on Monday.
As many as 13 boats, including six snakeboats, will compete in four categories in this year’s Moolam boat race. The race, though associated with religious observances, is known for presenting a picture of harmony. When 150-ft-long chundan vallams (snakeboats), each powered by some 100 oarsmen cleave through the waters to the accompaniment of ancient boat songs and cheering of thousands of boat race enthusiasts, domestic and foreign tourists as they vie for the ‘Raja Pramukhan Trophy’, it is going to be an electrifying afternoon in this quaint Kuttanad village.
The Moolam boat race will be followed by a host of races across the region and other parts of the State in the coming months. The 69th edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR), known as ‘Kuttanad’s Olympics on water’, is likely to be held on August 12. The NTBR is also likely to be the first race of this year’s Champions Boat League (CBL).
