The infamous Champions Boat League is just around the corner in Kerala. Beginning with the Nehru Boat Race in Alappuzha, it will also make its way to districts of Kollam and Ernakulam. Thrissur and Kottayam districts will also celebrate the boat’s glory. Nehru Boat Race commencing on 4th September while ending with President’s Trophy Boat Race on 26th November.
Kerala’s tourism had seen a big surge with the first installment of Champions Boat League (CBL) in 2019. Therefore, they decided to bring it back. The annual event was set to commence every year but failed to do so because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Kerala Tourism has released this year’s calendar on the event and people are excited to re-experience the event for themselves.
Commencing on 2nd September it goes against the tradition of being held second Saturday of August to coincide with Onam festivities.
The opening of the snake boat races will be held at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha alongside the iconic Nehru Trophy Boat Race on September 4th. Two races will be held in Kollam and Ernakulam districts, one race each in Thrissur and Kottayam.
The locale for the Vallam Kali (Boat Races) in Alappuzha will be Pulinkunnu, Kainakary, Karuvatta, Pandanadu (Chengannur) and Kayamkulam, besides Alleppey town. Piravom and Marine Drive will be the venues in Ernakulam, while in Kollam district it will be Kollam Town and Kallada. Thazhathangadi (Kottayam) and Kottapuram (near Kodungallur in Thrissur district) are the other locations.
The history of both the boats and the existence of this event are very crucial. The boats were made for war and commissioned by the 14th-century king Devanarayanan who suggested to prow one side of the wooden vessel up. He won the battle and the boats have since been made the same way with wild jackfruit trees from 8 centuries. While the boats have a glorious history, the being of the races does not. After the destructive and devastating 2018 floods in Kerala, the government had decided to boost tourism by organizing the CBL.
The glorious event contributes a lot of value for the people of Kerala as well as India as a whole. Be on the lookout for the event this year!
