Vallam kali - WikiHQ

thumb|right|300px|Aranmula Boat in Uthrattathi Boat Race

thumb|Chundan Vallam

thumb|right|Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2024 at Punnamada Lake, Alappuzha

thumb|Vallam Kulangara - Snake boats

Vallam kali (vaḷḷaṃ kaḷi, literally: boat game), also known as snake boat race, is a traditional boat race held in the Punnamada Lake of Kerala, India. It is a form of canoe racing and uses paddled war canoes. These races typically take place during the monsoon season, from July to September, and are closely associated with the Onam festival.

History

thumb|Vallam Kali

In Kerala, during an early 13th-century war between the feudal kingdoms of Kayamkulam and Chembakassery, King Devanarayana of Chembakassery commissioned the construction of a war boat named Chundan Vallam and tasked a famous carpenter of the day with the responsibility of creating it. Hence, the technical methods for creating these snake boats are around 8 centuries old. Of the snake boats still in use today, the Parthasarathi Chundan is the oldest model. For the past 400 years, the chundan vallam and other boat types started being used for vallam kali, held along many of the lakes of Kerala.

Vallam Kali was performed as a religious ritual to honor past Hindu kings and gods that dwell among the coastal temples. For example, the Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat Race, which is celebrated as a ritual to honor Lord Parthasarathy, is connected to the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple.

Globalization

In 2019, Kerala tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran announced the establishment of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to globally telecast the IPL-inspired Champions Boat League as an annual event, with the intention of generating revenue and tourist attraction through advertisements and sponsorships. Today, these races draw thousands of spectators from across Kerala, the rest of India, and abroad. Due to its connection with Onam, local schools often close, allowing children to join in the celebrations and watch the competitions. Not all vallam kali is competition-oriented however, with other races, like the Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat Race, still retaining their ritual aspects.thumb|[[Nehru Trophy Boat Race]]

Vanchippattu

Vanchippattu () is a form of poetry in the Malayalam language that is commonly used during vallam kali and related festivals. During Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali, the vanchipattu is performed by the participants for its significance in the rituals. Ramapurathu Warrier is considered to be the pioneer of the vanchippattu.

Types of boats

Vallam kali boats are designed in the style of traditional paddled war canoes. The most popular type of boat used during vallam kali is called the chundan vallam ('snake boat'). Other common types of boats used in vallam kali are listed below:

|Major races (e.g. Nehru Trophy)

|Churulan Vallam

|Smaller, more agile version, the "curly boat". It's recognizable by its symmetry and curvature; both sides of the boat - the prow and stern - rise upward, giving it a curved appearance. Exact dimensions vary by region and race.

|30-40

|More local races

|Veppu Vallam

|Known as the "cooking boat," this support boat is smaller in size and was traditionally used for provisions to soldiers during naval wars.

|25-30

|Short races

|Odi Vallam

|The "running boat." Historically used to protect cargo vessels by chasing pirates and sea robbers, this type of boat is lightweight and fast in nature, typically used for races for shorter sprints. Sometimes called iruttukuthi vallam ("dark cutted boat") since "its speed challenges darkness."

Each team, which represents a village or a club, is required to register their boats and display their boat name. Captains are expected to identify themselves for the duration of the race, and all rowers, with a minimum required for each boat category, are expected to be in their attire. The winning team is given prize money; though amounts vary with the type and level of competition, prizes are typically over ₹1 lakh.

Boats themselves also need to undergo strict maintenance and decoration, sometimes even year-round. A mixture of fish oil, coconut shell, and ash is used to oil the boats and keep the wood and hull strong. These repair measures are often carried out by the village carpenter and are most prioritized before and after each race. Decoration is then added, most often including cultural ornaments such as silk umbrellas and brass lamps. On the day of the race, rituals and blessings are given towards the boats. In the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, for example, the men offer paddy, tobacco, and betel leaves to Parthasarathy and circumambulate the temple, chanting in Vanchipattu.

Piravom Boat Race in Piravom
Thuruthippuram Boat Race, in the Periyar, Ernakulam district

Minor events

Paravur Jalothsavam & Boat Race in Paravur Thekkumbhagam, Kollam district
ATDC Boat Race, Alappuzha district
Rajiv Gandhi Trophy Boat Race, Pulinkunnu
Neerettupuram Pampa Boat Race
Karuvatta Boat Race
Kavanattinkara Boat Race
Kumarakom Arpookara Vanitha Jalamela, Kumarakom
Mahatma Boat Race, Mannar, Alappuzha
Kottapuram Boat Race, Kottappuram
Kodungallur and Kumaranasan Smaraka Jalotsavam, Pallana
Indira Gandhi Boat Race, in Kochi Lake, Ernakulam district
Kaithappuzhakkayal Boat Race, in Kaithappuzha Lake, Ernakulam district
Biyyam Kaayal Boat Race, Ponnani
Uthara Malabar Boat Race, Thejaswini Lake, Kasaragod district
E. K. Nayanar Trophy - Malabar Jalolsavam, Mangalassery, Kuppam River, Kannur district
Kuppam Boat Race, Kuppam River, Kannur district
Kattampally Boat Race, Kannur district