The boat races of Kerala, especially those held in Alappuzha are a spectacle famous worldwide. The Champakulam Boat Race is among the oldest and the biggest crowd-pullers, putting on a show of heritage as old as the history of the state. The race is held in snake boats – long and thin boats synonymous with Kerala’s cultural identity – on River Pampa. The festival is held on the sacred day of ‘moolam’, according to the Malayalam month of Midhunam. It is believed that it was on this day that the deity at AmbalappuzhaSree Krishna Temple came home.
The sight of the race is spectacular as massive boats are rowed by multiple frenzied men, each putting in his best effort to keep the boat going as fast he can, in perfect synchronisation with others. The men make merry by humming songs and repeating local folk music to inspire each other.
Legend has it that once the king of Chempakasseri erected a temple as per the instructions of the royal priest. However, just before the opening, he was informed that the idol was inauspicious. Thus, he went over to the Karikulam temple in Kurichi to get the idol of Sri Krishna, and on his way back, made a stop at Champakulam. There, he was amazed to see thousands of boats decked in vibrant colours waiting to escort the idol to the temple. This scene is enacted every year during the boat race.
Snake boat race in the Kerala
The Snake boat race in the Kerala resonates across Kerala, they combine the natural beauty of the region with the energetic and exuberant people of Kerala. The Snake boat race in the Keralas are held in the Malayalam month of Midhunam, which is roughly sometime in the months of June and July. Champakulam Boat race is one of the oldest races of this type. This race kickstarts the season of boat races all over Kerala. The Champakulam boat race is held in Champakulam, in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. The boat race which is held on the river Pampa attracts a massive crowd to the river on the day of moolam according to the Malayalam calendar.
History of Snake boat race in the Kerala
The boat race is held on a specific day every year for it follows a legend. The legend is believed by many and is of religious significance to the Hindus of Kerala. The boat race started sometime in the 1545 A.D., and the legend originated from that time too. The Raja of Chempakassery, Devanarayanan, built a temple in Ambalapuzha since the royal astrologer suggested him to do so. Before the deity was installed in the temple, it was brought to his notice that the idol wasn’t auspicious. This made him look for an idol that was suitable, as soon as possible. The priests told him about the idol of Lord Krishna, in Kurichi at the Karikulam temple. It was believed that this idol in Kurichi was the given to one of the Pandavas,Arjuna, by Lord Krishna. This made this idol holy and sacred. This Raja’s men went on boats to Kurichi to get this idol and, thus, on the return journey, the men stayed in Champakulam for the night at a Christian household of Itty Thommen, who was a confidant of the Raja. The next day, followed by his entourage, the Raja came to Champakulam. The idol was worshipped by all with pujas done by the Raja and the people of Champakulam. The Raja was pleased by the treatment he received from the people of Champakulam and the idol on their stay and thus declared a water carnival would be held every year in the river water of Pampa, in Champakulam. This boat race in Champakulam commemorates the boat racing festival all over Kerala. Mithunam was the day when the deity was installed at the Amabalapuzha temple.