The famous annual snakeboat regatta Uthrittathi Vallamkali was held in the river Pampa at Aranmula with colour and gaiety on Friday afternoon.
The snakeboat ( palliyodam ) belonging to the Poovathoor-East Palliyoda Karayogam won the race to bag the Mannam Trophy in the ‘B’ category, while the result of the finals held in the ‘A’ category was withheld owing to a dispute over certain flaws that reportedly occurred at the starting point.
‘Accept or contest again’
The Palliyoda Seva Sanghom (PSS) authorities asked the crew of the four snakeboats that participated in the final race in the ‘A’ category to cooperate with the race committee’s decision to conduct the finals once again.
The race committee held that all four finalists have to contest again or to accept its decision to cancel the race in the ‘A’ category.
However, the boat crews rejected the committee’s decision, alleging that it was flaws on the part of the organisers that ultimately led to confusion.
PSS leaders told The Hindu that a decision on the finals held in the ‘A’ category would be taken only after carefully analysing video footage.
A total of 51 snakeboats took part in the pageant and race.
The Ayroor Palliyodam snakeboat capsised on the way to Aranmula from Ayroor.
The snakeboat regatta was held as part of the idol installation ceremony at the centuries-old Sree Parthasarathy Temple in Aranmula.
The R. Sankar Memorial Trophy was shared by the Poovathoor-East and Keekozhoor Palliyoda Karayogams in the ‘B’ category.
Grand pageant
The regatta began with a ceremonial procession of snakeboats in the afternoon. The Minister for Tourism and Devaswom, Kadakampally Surendran, inaugurated the regatta at a function presided over by the PSS president, K.G. Sasidharan Pillai. Later, Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas flagged off the boat race.
Inaugurating the regatta, Mr. Surendran said the Aranmula Vallamkali was a festival that amply sends a message of nationalism and secularism.
