 Kerala is well-known for its boat races along with the water sports. Kuttanad and the upper Kuttanad area are mainly famous for the boat races. The annual boat races are a source of entertainment, celebration and gaiety for the locals comprising majority of the agriculturists and fishermen. These annual boat races are the platform for proving the physique and muscle power of the people of a Kara locality of Kuttanadu. Among the several boat races of Kerala the chief are the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, Champakulam Moolam Boat Race and Aranmula Boat Race.
Nehru Trophy Boat Race
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is the most colorful water sport in Kerala. It is organized at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha every year on the second Saturday in the month of August. People from all over the world come over here to witness this prestigious cultural event of Kerala. The trophy was named as Nehru Trophy because the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru handed it over to the winners of the first boat race. The event was an impromptu and was held in the honor of the Prime minister who visited Alappuzha in 1952.
In the year 1952, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru visited the erstwhile Travancore-Cochin. On his way to Alleppey from Kottayam He was given a roaring reception by the people of Alleppey on his way from Alleppey to Kottayam. After enjoying the sail in the snake boat known as Chundan, Pandit Nehru donated a rolling trophy to be awarded to the winner.
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is celebrated, as a festival by the people of Alleppey and the main attraction of the festival is the sportsman's sprit of the participants of the race. The event is enjoyed equally by the locals as well as the tourists both Indian and foreigners.
 The trophy is a replica in silver of a snake-boat and is placed over a wooden abacus. Panditji's signature along with the following words is inscribed on the trophy: "To the winner of the boat-race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore-Cochin". This trophy was later given the name of the 'Nehru Trophy'. Nehru Trophy Boat race has become a very popular event over the years and all the boat clubs desire to win the prestigious Nehru Trophy.
Champakulam Moolam Boat Race
The Champakulam Moolam Boat Race is the oldest and most popular snake boat race in Kerala. It is closely associated with the Sri Krishna Temple at Ambalappuzha. The boat race is held on the Champakulam Lake on the Moolam day of the Malayalam calendar month Midhunam. It is also the day of the installation of the deity at the Temple.According to the local legends, the Maharaja Devanarayana of Chempakasseri built a temple at Ambalappuzha at the instruction of the royal priest. But as the deity was being installed, he was informed that the idol was not auspicious. The minister suggested to the disturbed king to bring down the idol of Sri Krishna, presented to Arjuna by the Lord himself, from the Karikulam temple in Kurichi. The minister with a few others went to Kurichi, met the authorities and returned with the idol. On the way back they had a night halt at Champakulam. The next morning, the boats from the entire region gathered to escort the idol in a ceremonial procession through the lake to the Temple.
This practice has continued over the years and is performed with the same enthusiasm. An exotic procession of water boats decorated with colorful parasol is carried out just before the race. The race is organized at several stages for various categories of boats.
Aranmula Boat Race
The Aranmula Boat Race is a two day water carnival rather than a sports competition. It is held during the festival of Onam. According to the local beliefs, this event is performing of a very famous legend. The story thus goes that once a devout Brahmin made votive offering of feeding one pilgrim a day. One day Sri Krishna himself made an appearance to him. Overwhelmed, the Brahmin vowed to offer 51 measures of rice and all the ration for the thiruvona sadya or the sumptuous Onam feast at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple.
Once the rivals from another village stopped the thiruvonachilavu thoni or the boat carrying the offerings. But the villagers of the Brahmin's own village came to the rescue on snake boats. Since then, a fleet of about 48 palliyodam representing the nearby backwater villages carried the offering. A palliyodam is a large, luxurious snake boat used especially by the gods and the royalty.
Today, only 26 colorful snake boats participate in the event. An imposing idol of Sri Krishna is taken out in procession around the lake where the children are dressed as nymphs and princesses. On the second day of the event, snake boats is decorated with silken parasol and full of helmsmen, oarsmen and singers assemble near the temple early in the morning. From there, they move on in pairs thereby creating a magnificent spectacle. The proper boat race is held in the afternoon.
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