Nehru Trophy Boat Race

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Nehru Trophy Boat Race is one the famous Vallam Kali held in Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha district of Kerala state in south India.

Vallam Kali (or Vallamkali) literally means boat play/game, but can be translated to boat race in Malayalam.

This race is conducted on the second saturday of every August.

Vallam Kali include races of many kinds of traditional boats of Kerala. The race of Chundan Vallam (snake boat) is the major item. Hence Vallam Kali is also know in English as Snake Boat Race and a major tourist attraction. Other types boats which do participate in various events in the race are Churulan Vallam, Iruttukuthy Vallam, Odi Vallam, Veppu Vallam (Vaipu Vallam), Vadakkanody Vallam, Kochu Vallam.

1 How this boat race got the name
2 Other renowned boat races in Kerala
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] How this boat race got the name

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of Independent India visited Kerala in 1952. He was given a roaring reception by the people of Alleppey, escorted by the huge snake-boats. Having gone through the tremendous excitement of sailing in a snake-boat Jawaharlal Nehru donated a rolling trophy to be awarded to the winner of the race.

The trophy is a replica of a snake-boat in silver, placed on wooden abacus on which the following words are inscribed.

"To the winner of the boat-race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore-Cochin".