Kerala is one of
those rare states that still uses boats the way they were used in ancient
times. For travel, for trade, for competitions and festivals. Boats are an
integral part of the lifestyle given its vast network of rivers and backwaters
and lakes, sea and estuary….Besides the popular houseboats or kettuvalam there
are the snake boats or chundan valams.
When kings of
Allapuzha (Allepey) fought riverine battles in boats, one king decided he
needed a boat to outdo other boats in the canals and the snake boat was created. No other king could quite get the ingenious design and
the snake boat became something of a treasure to be jealously guarded. What was
it about the design that made it all conquering?
A Snake Boat or
Chundan is the indigenous version of the canoe. It’s a long hulled – stretching
from 100 to 138 feet and steep sterned boat rearing up at one end upto 20 feet much like a snake's hood. Its maximum capacity is a whopping
100 rowers. In battles, therefore it upped the capacity of oarsmen who could be
sent in lesser number of boats to do battle in the narrow canals. Their length
meant they could overpower the smaller boats.
Monsoon
Much like a peacock
that comes out to dance in the rains, the snake boats take pride of place in
villages of Kerala during the monsoons. Boats snake their way down rivers and
lakes in impromptu and organised racing contests. Then village rowers pit
themselves against neighbouring village rowers. During festivals, there will be a platform in the midst of the boat for 8 singers who will chant songs representing the 8 directions that the Gods guard.
Coming Up – the First Boat Race of the Season
The Champakulam
Moollam Boat Race is held in July. It marks the occasion when the idol of
Lord Krishna was placed in the shrine of Ambalapuzza and during the journey
there was a stop over at Champakulam. Even today the Champakulam Moollam boat
race is preceded by countless boats, parasols aloft floating down the river
just as they did aeons ago to escort the idol of Lord Krishna to its temple
destination. And then the race begins, 100 rowers to a boat and a raucous crowd standing on the river Pampa cheering them on...Watch the race here....
Date of Champakulam
Moollam Boat Race - July 3, 2012
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