Nehru Trophy Boat Race Preps Underway

There are only a couple of days before the Nehru Trophy Boat Race begins, and boat clubs in Kottayam and Allapuzha are off to a good start with preparations. The boat race is the most popular of all races. When the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, visited the region in 1952, he was so impressed by the sport that he donated a rolling trophy for the winner. Since then the race's popularity has risen. Snake boat Illikulam Chundan was launched recently at tourist hotspot Kumarakom, some 46 kilometers from Kochi city. Designing and building it took more than one year, and it will carry 111 people, including 95 oarsmen and 16 musicians to keep their spirits up. The 132 feet marvel was built by ace boat builder Uma Maheswaran. His father, Kozhimukku Narayanan Asari, has built some of the greatest snake boats in history, most of which won top prizes in many races. Local race enthusiast Saju Jaboy has built this boat in the memory of his father at a cost of 10 million rupees – about US$209,000. [Saju Jaboy, Boat Owner]: "The people of Kumarkom did not have a boat of their own to compete in the Nehru Trophy Boat race. Because of this, I commissioned this Chundan Vallom (snake boat). It is also the first new Chundan Vallom built in Kottayam district." Unmindful of the drizzle, a huge crowd lines the banks of Kumarakom Lake to see the vibrant boat make its splash. The annual race takes place in neighboring Allapuza district on the second Saturday of August. Fifty-nine boats, including 17 snake boats, are expected to vie for top honors. The race has also attracted competition from the Middle East.

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