NEHRU TROPHY BOAT RACE

NEHRU TROPHY BOAT RACE

Nehru Trophy Boat Race is the most famous of the boat races of Kerala. This annual regatta is held on the Punnamada backwaters of Alappuzha distract on the second Saturday of august. On the day of this fiercely fought boat race, the tranquil lake front is transformed into a sea of humanity with an estimated two Lakh people, including tourists from abroad, coming to watch the event. For the people of each village in Kuttanad (alappuzha) a victory at this race for their village boat is something to be celebrated for months to come. The major attraction of the boat race is the competition of snake boats or Chundan vallams. For the Nehru trophy boat race all the 18 snake boats of the state will participate. The race course, having a length of about 1370 mts, is e divided into various tracks for the conduct of the competition. When they are advancing through various tracks, it appears like the fast moving snakes. The oarsmen splash the oars in unison with the rhythmic chants and beats of drum. The movement of competing boats are so thrilling that the spectators get in tune with the excited mood of the surrounding uproars.

“To the winners of the boat race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore - Cochin" -Nehru  

The history of Nehru trophy boat race is associated with the visit of late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, then prime minister of India to alappuzha. The first race was an impromptu one conducted in 1952 in honour of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who visited alappuzha. In that race of snake boats, Nadubhagam Chundan stood first. Pandit jawaharlal Nehru who was thrilled and excited by the performance of the oarsmen , jumped into the nadubhagam chundan , forgetting all security arrangements. The boat proceeded to the boat jetty carrying the prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his return to Delhi in December 1952, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru donated a silver trophy which is a replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus. The trophy bears the following inscription above his signature; "To the winners of the boat race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore – Cochin. This trophy later come to known as Nehru trophy and in fond memory of great Pandit jawaharlal Nehru, the people of Alappuzha celebrate the Nehru trophy boat race every year. The boat clubs and boat race lovers of the locality who are the inspiring spirit behind the boat races have to spend lacks of rupees for presenting an impeccable performance in the race. It is the cherished ambition of all boat clubs to win the Nehru trophy boat race and embrace the prestige Nehru trophy boat race which is considered as a matter of pride and prestige. 

                                                          Nehru Trophy Boat Race