Snake Boat in Kerala

At Aranmula, where there is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Arjuna, thousands of people gather on the banks of the river Pampa to witness the exciting snake boat races. Nearly 30 chundan vallams or snake boats participate in the festival. Singing traditional boat songs, the oarsmen, in white dhotis and turbans, splash their oars into the water to guide their boats to cruise along like a fish on the move. The golden lace at the head of the boat, the flag and the ornamental umbrella at the center make it a spectacular show of pageantry too. ... Aranmula is a suburb of Kozhencherry. ... This article is about Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. ... In Hindu mythology, Arjuna is one of the heroes of the epic Mahabharata. ... The Pampas (from Quechua, meaning plain) are the fertile South American lowlands that include the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Santa Fe, and Córdoba, most of Uruguay, and the southernmost end of Brazil, covering more than 750,000 km² (290,000 square miles). ... Snake boat races are held annually in Kerala, India, preceding the Onam festival in August or September. ...

Each snake boat belongs to a village along the banks of the river Pampa and is worshipped like a deity. Every year the boat is oiled mainly with fish oil, coconut shell, and carbon, mixed with eggs to keep the wood strong and the boat slippery in the water. The village carpenter carries out annual repairs lovingly and people take pride in their boat, which represents their village and is named after it.

See also

• Nehru Trophy Boat Race
• Vallam Kali