Chundan Vallam
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Chundan Vallam (Beaked Boat) known to outside world as Kerala snake boats is one of the icons of Kerala culture used in Vallamkali (boat race).
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[edit] Architecture
Constructed according to specifications taken from the Sthap Athya Veda, an ancient treatise for the building of wooden boats. These boats are about 100 to 138 ft in length, with the rear portion towering to a height of about 20 ft. and a long tapering front portion. It resembles a snake with its hood raised. Its hull is built of planks precisely 83 feet in length and six inches wide.
Aries Punnamada Chundan, an initiative of the Aries Group of Companies, is widely acclaimed to be the longest Snake Boat with a length of 144 ft. It is also the first Snake Boat to be constructed in steel. This `chundan' has found place in the Limca Book of Records for the longest snake boat made of steel. K Surendrababu from Kainakari was the chief architect of this 'chundan'.
'Aries Chundan', the first ever snake boat made of steel, is all set to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for accommodating the largest canoe crew of 141.
This innovative steel snake boat had a scientific design which was based on the latest scientific methods in naval architecture. The boat’s shape and stability had been designed using the famous ‘Autoship’ software. The strength had been analysed by a finite element method, an overhanging test was conducted to analyse the longitudinal strength and a sinking test was conducted to prove its ‘unsinkability.’
[edit] Decorations
It is decorated with golden lace. And there will be a flag and two or there ornamental umbrella.
[edit] Care
Traditionally each boat belongs to a village and the villagers worship that boat like a deity. Only men are allowed to touch the boat and to show respect they should be barefooted. To make the boat slippery while in water it is oiled with a mixture of fish oil, coconut shell carbon and eggs. Repair works are done annually is done by the village carpenter.
[edit] Capacity and Usage
Traditionally it will be commanded by a Kaarnavan / Karanaadhan Village leader)with First Adanayampu and under him there will be three main oarsmen who control the movement of the boat with 12 feet long main rudder-oar (Adanayampu). Sitting two in row along the length of the Boat there will be 64 oarsmen, representing 64 art forms (or sometimes there will be 128 oarsmen). They row in rhythm of the vanchipattu (boatman's song). There will be around 25 singers in a row at the middle between the oresmen. And in the middle of the second half of the boat is a platform for eight people to stand from where the main singer will lead the song.They represent the Ashtadikpalakas(the Devas or Gods who guard the eight directions).A colourful and decorated umbrella also will be there.
[edit] External links
- Chundan Vallam chundan vallam (Snake Boat) with all its different parts named.
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