Nehru Trophy Boat Race

Snake boat races are wonderful celebrations that make life alive in the beautiful backwaters of God's own country. Held during ONAM, the harvest festival in August / September, is one of the biggest team sport in the world. And in this league the Nehru Trophy boat race is one of the outstanding snake boat races of Kerala.
Perhaps, the most famous too, this annual regatta is held on Punnamada Backwaters Alappuzha district on the second Saturday of August each year. The main attraction of the regatta is competition from vessels or snake Chundanvallams. These boats stretch of about 100 feet long, with a raised rear, like raising the hood of a snake. They are usually ranks by men numbering around 100; rowing in unison and in an aggressive manner.
The racecourse, with a length of about 1370 m, is divided into several tracks for the conduct of the competition. When they are promoting through various avenues, it appears as the rapid movement of snakes. The rowers splashing oars in unison with the rhythmic chants. The movement of vessels in the competition are so fascinating that viewers come into harmony with the excited mood surrounding uproars.
In addition to the races chundanvalloms (snakeboats) and the small craft, the event offers many fascinating sites such as water ceremonial processions, spectacularly decorated floats and boats. It is the ambition of all expensive clubs boat to win the prestigious trophy Nehru, who is regarded as a matter of pride and prestige.
History
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 honor of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who visited Alappuzha. In this race boats snake, 'Nadubhagam Chundan' was first. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who was delighted and excited by the performance of the oarsmen, jumped into the "Nadubhagam Chundan", forgetting all security measures. The boat proceeded to the jetty boat carrying the Prime Minister. After his return to Delhi a few months later, 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 regatta, which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore - Cochin. "This trophy came later to be known as the Nehru Trophy, and the bottom of a large memory Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the people celebrate the Alappuzha Nehru Trophy Boat Race each year.
Venue : Punnamada Backwaters, Alappuzha district.
Visit ntbr.igitec.com to book tickets for this unique aquatic festival.