CHUNDAN VALLAM (SNAKE BOAT)

Chundan Vallam (Beaked Boat) known to the outside world as Kerala snake boats are one of the icons of Kerala culture used in the Vallamkali (boat race).
Constructed according to specifications taken from the Sthapathya Veda, an ancient treatise for the building of wooden boats, these boats are anywhere from 100 to 138 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.
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 the water, it is oiled with a mixture of fish oil, coconut shell carbon and eggs. Repair work is done annually by the village carpenter.
Traditionally it will be commanded by a Kaarnavan / Karanaadhan Village leader)with First Adanayampu and under him there will be three main oarsmen who control the movement of the boat with a 12-foot-long (3.7 m) main rudder-oar (Adanayampu). Sitting two to a row along the length of the boat, there will be 64 oarsmen, representing 64 art forms (or on occasion 128 oarsmen). They row in rhythm of the vanchipattu (boatman's song). There will be around 25 singers in a row at the middle between the oarsmen. In the middle of the second half of the boat is a platform for eight people to stand from where the main singer will lead the song. They represent the Ashtadikpalakas(the Devas or Gods who guard the eight directions). A colourful and decorated umbrella also will be there

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• CHUNDAN VALLAM
• BACKWATER
• ALAPPUZHA