The first ever ‘Ponth Jalolsavam’, a race of single-man rowed, thermocol sea rafts, held on the waters of the Chethi estuary that flows into the mainland from the Arabian Sea near Arthunkal here, had a promising start with thousands flocking the venue to witness the exciting races.
The event, inaugurated by Alappuzha Bishop Stephen Athipozhiyil, had 42 of the rafts, known as ‘ ponth vallom ’ in local parlance, participating. The rafts, usually used for fishing in the sea, had one more occupant however for the races, some of them young children who sat behind the rower, holding up his chest number.
There were eight heats, seven of them with five contestants, and the eighth with seven prior to the semis and the finals. The finals saw Lijimon Kurisinkal ending up first, while Sebastian Mathen and Biju John were adjudged second and third runners-up respectively.
Earlier, inaugurating the race, Bishop Athipozhiyil said though the race was much smaller in magnitude when compared to other boat races held across the State including the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, it was unique with its character, and moreover, was one occasion when the entire coast came together as one. The event, he hoped, would be held annually.
A cultural procession from the Chethi Kattadi Junction to the venue and a colourful procession of the participating rafts were held prior to the races.
