Deviation from the traditional rowing style of the Aranmula Palliyodam (snakeboat) in the Uthrittathi Vallamkali in the Pampa during Onam has raised resentment among a large section of devotees of Lord Parthasarathy, presiding deity of Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy Temple.
The traditional regatta combines craftsmanship, exquisite music, devotion, and time-honoured ritual, lending a religious fervour to it. The event is rich with religious meaning and symbolism.
NSS stance
The Nair Service Society (NSS) that controls the palliyoda karayogams that own the snakeboats has condemned the hiring of oarsmen from Kuttanad and other places for controlling the palliyodams, which the devotees regard as the deity’s own vessel.
The Palliyoda Seva Sanghom (PSS), the apex body of the palliyoda karayogams that organises the regatta, has drawn criticism and devotees’ ire for permitting hiring of oarsmen for the boat race this year.
NSS general secretary G.Sukumaran Nair, in a statement, said the NSS would never accept any deviation from tradition in the Uthrittathi Vallamkali.
Hiring oarsmen ignorant of the sanctity of the palliyodam and the distinctive rowing style had taken the sheen of the event, Mr. Nair said. Highlighting the cultural importance of the event, he criticised rowing of the snakeboats without complying with the traditional style.
The trophy should have been conferred on those snakeboats or the batch of palliyodams that complied with the traditional style of the regatta, instead of the one that finished first in the race, he said.
Vanchippattu
The oarsmen are supposed to paddle the palliyodam in tune with the Vanchippattu, songs structured in Nathonnamtha metre in praise of Lord Parthasarathy, which is the major attraction of the regatta.
But, the paddlers hired from Kuttanad and Manipur can follow only the ‘thi-thai’ rhymes followed in the boat races in Kuttanad.
There were reports that hired paddlers from Manipur were present in certain palliyodams.
Writer and historian Aranmula Hariharputhran said hiring of oarsmen for the Uthrittathi Vallamkali with a tradition of 600 years would sully the dignity and majesty of the event.
PSS clarifies
Meanwhile, PSS president K.G. Sasidharan Pillai clarified that many palliyodam karayogms were forced to hire oarsmen from outside as they were short of experienced paddlers.
Hiring oarsmen from Kuttanad was not something new as the practice was going on for the past 10 years, he said.