Team spirit, joyous celebration, enthusiasm, color, happiness and healthy competition are an integral part of the annual Kerala boat races that infuse life into the lush lazy greens and the winding backwaters glistening under the dancing sunrays.
The Kerala boat races are an inseparable part of the glittering Kerala culture. These boat races are an expression of the cohesive force that binds the people of Kerala into one big happy family.
Among the Kerala boat races the Nehru Trophy Boat race is a very popular event. Besides this the other famous Kerala boat races that are organized all year through are the Aranmula Uthrattadi, Champakulam Moolam Boat Race, Neerettupuram Boat Race, Karuvatta Boat Race, Kottayam Mahatma Boat Race, Kumaranasan Smaraka Jalotsavam, Kumarakom Arpookara Vanitha Jalamela, Kavanattinkara Boat Race and the Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race.
The special boats that are used for these boat races are a special attraction. These boats are known as the snake boats and are locally referred to as Chunduvalloms. These narrow and slender boats are long enough to accommodate more than a hundred oarsmen in a single file at a time. Brightly painted and expertly constructed with tree trunks these boats are made for speed.
Besides the Chunduvalloms the other boats that are used for these Kerala boat races are called Churulans, Veppu's and Odi's.
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