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In Photos: Nehru Trophy Boat Race


Every year on the second Saturday of August, Punnamada Lake in Alapuzha backwaters become a scene of snake boat races that hurtle towards Nehru trophy. Spending millions of rupees and a months long practice, oarsmen come to Punnamada Lake to exhibit their prowess, splashing through the waters.


Ever since Jawaharlal Nehru, then Indian Prime minister visited Punnamada Lake in 1952, the competition has been known for his name. In its 65th edition inauguration ceremony, all teams lined up for a mass drill and the Punnmada Lake was filled with boats and each team wore uniforms in yellow, blue, red, white etc. Light blue was the theme color for this year .
 
And they moved towards the starting point, cheered by hundreds of vociferous onlookers. The Chundans (snake boats) resembles a girl running over water with silver anklets ( kolusu) on her feet .


It was time for a vibrant show by the Indian Navy.


Dozens of houseboats filled with spectators marked the boundaries in the palm-fringed Punnamada Lake.  And the oarsmen plough through the water and thousands of people line the banks of Punnamada lake cheering them   and the silence of the lake is sliced by the slashing oars of the pacing boats. When they advance through the tracks, it appears like fast moving snakes.


The rowing of boats was accompanied by  Vanchipattu ( boat songs). The boat is rowed to the rhythms and beats of the songs sung by these singers. The course is 1.4 km ( 0.9 miles) on the Punnamada Lake.  Twenty chundans took part in the race in five heats carrying 20 to 100 rowers on board having a length of  about 100-120 ft.


A team of women in  traditional Kerala dress along with men who provided  rowing support, caught every eye !! . Other class of boats which competed were Chrulan, Iruttukuthy, Odi, Veppu and Vadakkanody.

It was getting dark. Onlooker's on the sides of lake waved their mobile phones with lights. After 3 rounds of loser's final, Gabriyel Chundan emerged the winner in the photo finish of the final race.


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