|
Chundan Vallam (Chundan boat) known to outside world as Kerala snake boats is one of the icons of Kerala culture used in Vallamkali (boat race). Kerala ( (Anglicised) or (native); Malayalam: േകരളം, — ) is a state on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ...
Vallam Kali (or Vallamkali) literally means boat game (race) in Malayalam. ...
Architecture
Constructed according to specifications taken from the Sthap Athya Veda, an ancient treatise for the building of wooden boats. These boats are about 100 to 158 ft in length, with the rear portion towering to a height of about 20 ft. and a long tapering front portion. It resembles a snake with its hood raised. Its hull is built of planks precisely 83 feet in length and six inches wide.
Decorations It is decorated with golden lace. And there will be a flag and two or there ornamental umbrella.
Care Traditionally each boat belongs to a village and the villagers worship that boat like a deity. Only men are allowed to touch the boat and to show respect they should be barefooted. To make the boat slippery while in water it is oiled with a mixture of fish oil, coconut shell carbon and eggs. Repair works are done annually is done by the village carpenter. Look up deity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Binomial name Cocos nucifera L. The Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera), is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family). ...
Capacity and Usage Traditionally it will be commanded by a Nambudhiri Brahmin. Under him there will be four main oarsmen, symbolize the four Vedas. who control the movement of the boat with 12 feet long main rudder-oar. Sitting two in row along the length of the Boat there will be 64 oarsmen, representing 64 art forms (or sometimes there will be 128 oarsmen). They row in rhythm of the vanchipattu (boatman's song). There will be around 25 singers. And in the middle of the boat is a platform for eight people to stand. They represent the Ashtadikpalakas (the devas or gods who guard the eight directions). The Vedas are part of the Hindu Shruti; these religious scriptures form part of the core of the Brahminical and Vedic traditions within Hinduism and are the inspirational, metaphysical and mythological foundation for later Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra and even Bhakti forms of Hinduism. ...
Deva (देव in Devanagari script, pronounced as dévə) is the Sanskrit word for god, deity. It can be variously interpreted as a spirit, demi-god, celestial being, angel, deity or any supernatural being of high excellence. ...
See also
Vallam Kali (or Vallamkali) literally means boat game (race) in Malayalam. ...
External links - Chundan Vallam chundan vallam (Snake Boat) with all its different parts named.
| 
Feeds |
Contact