Published on : Saturday, March 30, 2019
Boat races in Kerala are one of the ancient and most celebrated traditions that are still followed religiously in the state. It holds an exclusive position of being the largest team sport in the world. The major attraction for any visitor is the splendor of watching 100-125 oarsmen in an impeccable unison on gigantic 100-foot long wooden snake boats, with rhythmic chants and frenzied drum beats that boost up otherwise serene backwaters of the state. A typical race season in the state attracts around 1.5 – 2 lakh visitors– local, national and international – who congregate at the riverbanks to watch a single race.
On August 10th, the CBL will start with the impressive Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Alappuzha and end with the President’s Trophy Boat Race in Kollam on the State Formation Day (November 1). During the intervening weekends, there will be 12 races which will start at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha, followed by competitions in the districts of Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram. The races will conclude with the President’s Trophy at Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam.
Tags: Kerala Toruism