CHAMPAKKULAM BOAT RACE

Kerala’s snake boat races are world famous. Snake boat races are one of the pillars of Kerala’s (An Indian State) culture. There are many snake boat races are held across Kerala.

 

Boat Race Name	Places held in Kerala
Champakkulam Boat Race	Champakkulam Alappuzha District
Nehru Trophy Boat Race	Punnamada Lake, Alappuzha Alappuzha District
Uthradam Thirunal Pamba Boat Race	River Pamba Alappuzha District
Payippad Boat Race	Payippad backwaters Alappuzha District
Aranmula Boat Race	River Pamba Pathanamthitta District

 

Chambakkulam boat race is the oldest Snake Boat Race in Kerala and first among all boat races in Year. Boat racing season will be starting with Chambakkulam Boat race.

  The beautiful Pampa River host this event and its costs filled with ocean of spectators. The name came because the place which is held in Champakkulam district. It is very famous so that many foreigners and native peoples crowded to see the snake boats splits the Periyar water and feel songs (‘vanjipattu’) which are echoed banks of pampa river.

 

WHEN IS CHAMPAKKULAM BOAT RACE

     July 4^th in 2020 Chmapkkulam boat races are held. The date may vary year to yeas as it is following Malayalam calendar. Moolam day of Midhunam Malayalam month. Lord Krishna’s idol was brought to Sree Krishna Temple at Ambalappuzha at the same day.

 

CHAMPAKKULAM BOAT RACE IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY?

Champakkulam Boat race is not a public holiday.

HISTORY OF CHAMPAKKULAM BOAT RACE

 

  The history of Chmapakkulam boat races is related to Ambalappuzha Loard Krishna Temple. In AD 1545 the King of ‘Chembakasseri’ kingdom ‘Pooradam Thirunal Devanarayanan’ built the Ambalappuzha Loard Krishna Temple but the Load Krishna Idol was not auspicious, So Raja decided to bring idol from Karinkulam temple. Raja’s men collected the Loard krishan Idole and set the return journey by boat through Pampa river.

 On the way the night set in, the crew took shelter in a Chrishtian family in Champakkulam, Mappilasseri Itty Thomman. The idol and Raja’s people treated warmly in Mappilassery.Raja pleased and came on next day to return the idol , Itty Thomman , his men and some priests from Champakkulam Kallorkad church accompanied Raja’s people and idol. The idol was installed with great fanfare.

 Raja pleased by the affection of Christian peoples and decided to start a great water carnival every year starting from AD 1545. This was held on Moolam day in the Midhunam Malayalam month.

 

HOW TO REACH CHAMPAKKULAM BOAT RACE?

 

 Chmapakkulam is 15 KM from Alappuzha railway station

78 km from Cochin International Airport.

Also See FESTIVALS OF KERALA