The traditional boat race ( vallom kali ) season is all set to begin in the State with the Champakulam Moolam boat race in the Pampa at Champakulam on Monday.
Organisers of the boat race said that 20 boats, including six snakeboats (chundan vallom) and 14 smaller boats, would participate in this year’s race. Winners of the snakeboat race would be presented with the ‘Raja Pramukhan Trophy’.
Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran will inaugurate the boat race at 2.15 p.m. Public Works Minister G. Sudhakaran, Kodikkunnil Suresh, MP, Thomas Chandy, MLA, and others will attend.
Picture of harmony
The Champakulam Moolam boat race, though associated with religious observances, is known to present a picture of harmony as people irrespective of caste or religion take part in the event. Following the Moolam boat race, the State will witness a host of races in various districts in the coming months. The State government has already announced that it would launch the Champions Boat League (CBL) this year. The CBL will commence with the Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Punnamada Lake next month and conclude with the President’s Trophy in Kollam.
