For ages, Keralites have cherished a reverential attitude to rivers.
When the weather becomes delightfully pleasant and the nature exults
in her full glory, it is the apt time for Keralites to hold the Jalotsavam
(water - carnivals). Boat race is in a way a display of physical might
of the people who forget their differences in partaking in this sport.
In that respect, the boat race is symbolic of the Jalotsavams in Kerala.
The most famous is the Aranmula Snake Boat Race conducted on the Uthrittathi
day of Chingom (August-September). On Thiruvonam day in Chingom when
the national festival of Onam begins in Kerala, Aranmula, a village
in Chengannur taluk, is unusually cheerful and gay.
The famous
snake boat carnival on the Pampa held annually at Aranmula on the
day of Uthrittathi asterism in connection with the Onam festival is
to commemorate the crossing of the river by Lord Krishna on that day.
The deity is supposed to be in all the boats that take part in the
carnival and all of them are expected to arrive at their destination
simultaneously. There is thus no element of competition in the Aranmula
Boat Race as in other regattas held in this district and elsewhere.
The race is not conducted to win any trophy or prize. The crew regard
the occasion as one for rejoicing and merry-making and cheerfully
row up and down the river to the tune of songs. Even though the festival
is of Hindu origin and is associated with the Parthasarathy Temple,
it is an all-community affair and participants include members of
all classes and communities living in and around Aranmula. The festival
is now being organised under the auspices of the Palli Oda Seva Sangham,
a popular organisation of the boat owners. It constitutes a national
festival for the people of Central Travancore and special boats and
buses ply to carry the people to witness the event. During the races,
the banks of the river on either side, for a distance of about three
kilometeres, would be thronged with millions. In recent years, the
festival attracts spectators from all parts of the country and even
from abroad. The Valla sadya is an important vazhipadu (offering)
in the temple on this occasion.
The snake boats
at the Aranmula regatta present an enchanting as well as imposing
spectacle. They are of extraordinary shape. About 100 ft. long, the
end of the boat is curving upwards with the front portion tapering
gradually. The rear portion would be towering to a height of about
20 feet. The boats resemble snakes with their hoods raised. A 150
- crew including oarsmen, singers and ruddermen man each boat which
is gaily decorated for the occasion. The occupants carry banners and
ornamental umbrellas of silk and gold. It is doubtful whether there
is any other national festival resplendent with such an aura of spiritual
devotion, endearing friendship, sportsman spirit, majesty and rapturous
delight as the Aranmula boat race. Similar Snake-boat races are organised
at Champakkulam and Paippadu in Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala,
during the Onam days.
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