Snake Boat races are held in many places in Kerala, The festival held every year on the backwaters in Alappuzha just before the Onam festival in August or September is the best known with teams competing for the prestigious Nehru Trophy.
The Snake Boats or Chundan Vallams are 110 feet long, 5 feet wide and seat up to 100 rowers in two rows along their length. The boats float low in the water and have a long curving stern. The prow is pointed and may have a decorative knob at the end. The prow rides low in the water with the length of the Snake Boat extending behind it. Apart from rowers, each boat carries a cox and leaders who maintain the rhythm of rowing through chants, songs and exclamations, all precariously perched at the stern which rises 10 feet above the water level.
Sadly we left it too late to go to see the races this year but next year ....
The Snake Boats or Chundan Vallams are 110 feet long, 5 feet wide and seat up to 100 rowers in two rows along their length. The boats float low in the water and have a long curving stern. The prow is pointed and may have a decorative knob at the end. The prow rides low in the water with the length of the Snake Boat extending behind it. Apart from rowers, each boat carries a cox and leaders who maintain the rhythm of rowing through chants, songs and exclamations, all precariously perched at the stern which rises 10 feet above the water level.
Sadly we left it too late to go to see the races this year but next year ....
No comments:
Post a Comment