BOAT RACES.
In alappuzha the land of lakes and rivers,
snake boat racing is something of cult. Sleek and immaculately poised, the
snake boats are the pride of every village. These race boats dominate the
thoughts and actions of the people of this region during the months of august
and September, when newly 20 minor and major regattas are held. The water
festival in alappuzha is unique. No other country in the world has such
festivities. The large number of participants in a racing boat marks still the
uniqueness that no other sport in the world has such a large number in a team.
The synchronized way of rowing offer long and devoted training and inherent
aptitude. Those who steer the vessel need through knowledge of water current,
observation power of high order, and they must be well versed in the different
aspects of boat racing. The most notable fact in the races of boats in that a
single neglected act of a single participant will lead a boat to lord in the
race. Most of the major water festivals of the region are associated with
legends connected with famous temples like champakkulam (Ambalapuzha), Payipad
(Haripad) and Aranmula. There festivals best retain the flavour of ancient
Kerala culture, especially the Uthrithathi boat race on the Pampa, in Aranmula,
where devotion, music and the sheer artistry and grandeur of the boats, known
as Palliyodams, make it a unique experience for the spectators.
The Boats [Vallangal]
Kuttanadu is a place of boats. Different kinds of boats are
seen always roaming over the water of this part of the Kerala state. The boats
of kuttanadu are of various types, according to their purpose. Kochuvallams are
small boats used to cross rivers and takes. They also range in their sizes. Kettuvallams
are largely cargo movers. Churulans are pleasure boats and they are considered
to be the conveyance of rich people in olden days. The churulan boats very in
length form 12 1/2 to 20 1/4 Koles
and their crew ranges from 10 to 36. Chundans are supposed to be navy boats of
Chempakassery rulers. It has got a length of more than a hundred feet and
usually more than a hundred people are on board. Both the does of the boats are
raised form water level. The rear end has a height of about twenty feet form
the surface of water. Nearly eighty six persons are rowers, ten to fifteen are
to give the rhythm, four are to steer the vessel. It is to be specially noted
that the chundans have the maximum maneuverability among all sort of race
boats.
The chundan (snake boat) variety of race boats is
usually 38 1/2 to 48 1/2 koles (one
kole being equivalent to 24 inches) long and accommodates 100 to 150 persons.
Vappu vallams ( Parunthuvalans) are said to be boats that
were used to carry stores for the soldiers on board the chundans. ‘Vaipu’ became Veppu" by usage. Vaipu in Malayalam
means cooking. The design and appearance of these vehicles differ from all
other race boats. The length of Parunthuvalan varies from 28 1/2
to 1/4 Koles and it accommodates 28 to 36 rowers. Oadis
or Iruttukuthies have a different origin. They were used for smuggling. It is
to be noted, they are seen in plenty in the coastal areas near Cochin and
suburbs. Their very design is for speed. Both the does are alike. Manoeuvrability
is little, spastically nil. They are never turned and rowed up only in shuttle
between, by turning round the rowers. The odi, also called cheru chundan has a
length of 28 1/4 to 32 1/4 koles
and has 40 to 60 rowers. Various types of boats, all home-made out of
indigenous materials are used for the boat races, Ranging from the magnificent
snake boat (chundan) nearly a hundred feet long and with 150 rowers, to the
smallest one which measures 18 feet and accommodates a dozen crew. The boats
are scooped out of single tree trunks, usually ‘Kadampu’ and ‘Anjili’ (
Artocarpus hirusuta). A lot of skill, labour, time and money, go into the
making of these boats which are objects of envy and wonder from ages past. The
most popular varieties of racing boats are called chundan, churulan, odi
(Iruttukuthi) and parunthuvalan (Veppu) and each differs from the other in the
shape of the helm and prow, and capacity to accommodate the crew. The
differences in the construction of the remaining parts of the boats are not,
however, very pronounced. Though the build naturally varies with the boats
intended for the placid Waters of rivers
and lakes, and the vessels which have to ply over the open backwaters, where
waves and currents have to be encountered. Easy and swift manoeuvrability is
the principal concern with the making of boats, which race over rivers and
lakes.
The cut water is reduced to the minimum in these boats. Their prows and
helms are raised considerably high and
the streamlining is equally horizontal as well as vertical. The chundan
and odi are such racing boats. In the construction of boats in tended to
negotiate open backwaters, case is taken to see that the cut water descends
almost to the keel and top heaviness is avoided by keeping the helm and prow
quite low. At either end, the gunwale is curved up to prevent waves dashing in,
as in the churulan type of boats. The prow and helm of there boats are of
identical build to facilitate easy maneuvering. Of all the race boats, the most
importing picturesque and coasty is the chundan , snake boat. The stern of the
snake boat rises about 15 feet from the water level, and is embellished with
exquisite ornamental designs in burnished brass and wood. The extent of
elaborate and expensive ornamentation, characteristic of the local craftsman's
skill, indicate the wealth and eminence of the owner of the boat, long and
narrow, the snake boats but across the water with majesty and grace. Photos
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