More than 100 experienced oarsmen in decorative garbs propel the boat to the beat of drums and songs. The unified action of sixteen feet long oars at the helm to rudder the boat, from a height of eight feet above the water, is decisive to win the race. The raising and dipping of the oars in unison, gives to the onlooker a thrilling sight of a bird in flight and that is a Snake boat.
The front portion of a snake boat is known as vetithadi. A windscreen known as kaattumara, is a place where wind can hardly enter. Snake boat has made use of this wind proof platform for the singers and instrumentalists to stand there.
The stern of a vessel, or the helm is called Amaram. The helmsman who steers the boat is the Amarakkaran. The curl at its stern (helm) represents the raised hood of a snake. The boat with a height from the water level at the rear, a width of six feet, a length of about 60-65 meters and the curl at the stern qualifies the boat to be called a snake boat, and its carrying capacity is hundred plus during the race time. The majestically caparisoned stern that is decorated with a flag and elaborate shining brass ornaments. The entire length of the boat is arrayed with silken multi-coloured ornate parasols. With 95 paddlers, 5 helmsmen and 10 nilakkar it resembles a snake, while on the move. The role of nilakkar is to enhance the vigour and enthusiasm of the paddlers
The boats in Kerala owe their name to their shapes, sizes or purposes. Prow is a nautical word that denotes the front part of a ship's hull, the bow. Owing to the curl at the stern, the boat earned its name chundan vallam. It is both a passenger boat as well as a kind of race boat.
Ornamental carvings in coils at the prow and stern of the country boats are known as churul. This curled or coiled carving at its prow and stern earned it the namechurulan vallam. Churulan, along with cheru chundan, parunthuvalan, odi vallam and chundan vallom, also belongs to the kaliyodam, kali vallom, kali vanchi category of race boats used for the vallom kali, one among the sports of the village folk in Kerala.
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Snake
Boat Race in Kerala
Aranmula
Aranmula, in Pathanamthitta district, is famous as one of
the five temple towns like Guruvayur. Other major temples
associated with the worship of
Palliyodam
Boats
Chhattisgarh was created out of the largest
Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It lies to the southeast of
Madhya Pradesh. Chhattisgarh is endowed with a rich cultural
and historical legacy. The state of Chhattisgarh is well known
for its ....
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Tradition
Snake Boats Race Kerala
The chundan vallams (Snake Boats) built for
Onam boat race is taken to the water only during the Onam festival.
A village owned the boats and kept them in special sheds.
Vallasadya
This is a grant feast, being given to the
oars men before the race. This feast will be served in one full
banana leaf in the traditional style. This comprises of unpolished
rice, ....
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Snake
Boat Race Celebration
During Onam, boat races are held at Alleppy,
Thrikkunnapuzha, Edathua, Payippadu, Champakulam, Karuvatta,
Ernakulam, and Kottaya.
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