Know about Indian boat racing, 'Vallam Kali' of Kerala

New Delhi: The southern Indian state of Kerala is famous for its boat race known as Vallam Kali.Vallam Kali is a long-established boat race held in Kerala, India. It is a type of canoe racing, and bring into play paddled war canoes. It is generally carried out in the season of the harvest festival Onam in autumn. Vallam Kali comprise races of many kinds of paddled longboats, the traditional boats of Kerala.The pursuit of Chundan Vallam (snake boat) is the foremost event. Hence Vallam Kali is also identified in English as Snake Boat Race and is a key tourist pull. Other category of boats which do take part in various events in the race are Churulan Vallam, Iruttukuthy Vallam, Odi Vallam, Veppu Vallam (Vaipu Vallam), Vadakkanody Vallam, Kochu Vallam. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a well-liked Vallam Kali held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala. The Vallamkali was initialy started in Assyria, on a New Year day in BC.300. Vallamkali (Boat Race) also took place in some other countries such as Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Cambodia, Bangkok, Burma, Britain etc. In Kerala, by the start of the 14th century, a battle took place between Kayamkulam and Chembakasseri. During that period, the king of Chembakasseri Devanarayana had resolved to construct an appropriate war boat known as Chundan Vallam and he gave the job to the famous “Thachan” (Carpenter) of that time.No doubt, Vallam Kali is the earliest water sport of our country, and at present it is the biggest tourist attraction of India.